About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
2026 Technical Division Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPU-35: Additive Manufacturing of Mycelium-Based Composites for Sustainable Construction |
| Author(s) |
Adriana LaVopa, Jia Heng Teoh, Hortense Le Ferrand |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Adriana LaVopa |
| Abstract Scope |
The construction of urban infrastructure contributes significantly to resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. However, rational design of construction materials presents one approach towards more sustainable urban environments. Mycelium-based composites are a renewable alternative to traditional construction materials. Previous work has demonstrated that mycelium-based composites can be produced using a wide range of locally available fungi and substrates, reducing costs of production and increasing accessibility. Fabrication via additive manufacturing offers further opportunities to create space-, energy-, and resource-efficient forms in urban construction. Here, we characterized the thermal conductivity, durability, and manufacturability of 3D printed mycelium-based composites. We identified the printable composition range for our bio-ink and demonstrated that mycelium-based composites outperformed composites without mycelium in terms of thermal insulation and durability. Our results suggest that 3D printed mycelium-based composites have potential in applications including insulation, packaging, and biodegradable containers, offering avenues toward increased sustainability across several facets of urban construction. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Composites, Sustainability |