About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Pure Mycelial Porous Structures with Customizable Mechanical Properties |
| Author(s) |
Atul Agrawal, Steven E Naleway |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Atul Agrawal |
| Abstract Scope |
The growing demand for sustainable materials has surged interest in fungal-based materials across industries such construction, textiles, and packaging. These materials are typically produced by cultivating fungal colonies on substrates or agricultural waste to yield porous structures with a high strength-to-weight ratio. However, broader adoption requires precise control over fungal growth to achieve customizable porous structures, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we explore the development of pure mycelium based porous constructs with tunable mechanical and structural properties. Using AFM, FTIR, SEM, TEM, BET and mechanical testing, we characterize the internal structure and performance of these materials. Mycelium grown using spherical and inverse opal substrate architectures revealed distinct growth behavior between trimitic and monomitic systems. Ultimately, this work aims to unravel the fungal growth dynamics of different hyphal systems to establish design principles for tailoring mycelial materials for application-specific use in sustainable material development. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Biomaterials, Mechanical Properties, Sustainability |