Mycelium on board

A MNEXT Research Project

Project Leader(s):

Shannon Peuling – Researcher

Ilaria La Bianca – Researcher (project start-up)

Research Professor(s):

Frank Huijben – Professor of the Biobased Building Research Group at MNEXT

Principle Investigator(s):

Shannon Peuling – Researcher

Neha John – Researcher

Francisco Ortega Exposito – Researcher

Stefano Roccio – Researcher

Funding:

SIA RAAK MKB

Consortium

Fairm, QbiQ, V8 Architects, Verbruggen Paddestoelen

Project Period

September 2022 – December 2023

MNEXT CoE

MNEXT (formerly named CoE BBE) aims to help accelerate the energy and (biobased) material transition, fuelled by complimentary collaborations with companies, organisations, and knowledge partners. MNEXT is a partnership between Avans University of Applied Sciences and HZ University of Applied Sciences

Project

A transition to a circular economy is needed to revolutionise the construction sector, making it more sustainable for both present and future generations. While the construction industry and the production of construction materials contribute to environmental pollution, they also offer great potential for addressing many environmental problems.

Sheet materials are engineered wood boards that are produced from recycled or solid wood where an adhesive is used to bind the particles together, predominantly used in: furniture manufacturing, flooring application, roofing, wall sheathing. The most common binder for boards is urea-formaldehyde. Other binders may be used depending on the grade of board and its intended end-use. For example, melamine urea-formaldehyde, phenolic resins, and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) are generally used in boards that require improved moisture resistance. Formaldehyde is classified in the European Union as a carcinogen.

In this project mycelium composites are developed as a formaldehyde-free, fully natural and biodegradable material with high potential to substitute these hazardous materials. The heat-press process – the feasibility of which was evaluated in a previous Kiem HBO project – is to be further developed towards a process where mycelium sheets with different thicknesses will be attained. This is considered as a fundamental step to increase the material approachability for the market. Different material manufacturing techniques are also considered to enable the increase of sample thicknesses and volume. Moreover, a business study will be incorporated to allow further understanding of the material market potential. The consortium composition of V8 Architects, QbiQ, Fairm, Verbruggen Paddestoelen BV, and MNEXT brings together different expertise and guarantees the consideration of the entire material production chain. The research will contribute to bring mycelium composites a step closer to the market, giving them visibility and increasing the possibility to a commercial breakthrough.