Mycelium, an incredible network of fungal strands that can thrive on organic waste and in darkness, could be a basis for sustainable fireproofing.
RMIT researchers are chemically manipulating its composition to harness its fire-retardant properties.
RMIT associate professor Tien Huynh, an expert in biotechnology and mycology, said mycelium can be grown from renewable organic waste.
“Fungi are usually found in a composite form mixed with residual feed material, but we found a way to grow pure mycelium sheets that can be layered and engineered into different uses – from flat panels for the building industry to a leather-like material for the fashion industry,” Huynh said.
The novel method of creating mycelium sheets that are paper-thin, like wallpaper, works without pulverising the mycelium’s filament network.
Instead, they used different growth conditions and chemicals to make the thin, uniform and – importantly – first resistant, material.
Researchers are focused on creating bio-derived, fire-retardant cladding for buildings to prevent tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire, in which the deadly blaze was accelerated by a highly combustible cladding component.
Associate professor Everson Kandare, an expert in the flammability and thermal properties of biomaterials and co-author of the paper, said the mycelium has strong potential as a fireproofing material.
“The great thing about mycelium is that it forms a thermal protective char layer when exposed to fire or radiant heat. The longer and the higher temperature at which mycelium char survives, the better its use as a fireproof material,” Kandare said.
“Beyond being effective, mycelium-based cladding can be produced from renewable organic waste and is not harmful to the environment when burned,” he said.
Where composite cladding panels are used, they usually contain plastics – which produce toxic fumes and heavy smoke when they burn.
“Bromide, iodide, phosphorus and nitrogen-containing fire retardants are effective, but have adverse health and environmental effects,” Kandare said.
“They pose health and environmental concerns, as carcinogens and neurotoxins that can escape and persist in the environment cause harm to plant and animal life.
“Bioderived mycelium produces naturally occurring water and carbon dioxide.”