Mycelium 3D Printing
Year : 2021
Role : Collaborator (Team of 2)
Skills : Material science, Product development, Biomaterials and sustainable systems
Instructor : Charlotte McCurdy
Developing sustainable and scalable material futures
A collaborative study project with RISD MID student Arvind Bhallamudi, where we explored mycelium to develop new biomaterial applications focused on sequestering carbon and also providing structural support.
Material
Conducting experiments with various substrates at home and in the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab at RISD, we set up multiple experiments with food waste, coffee grounds and other easily available biodegradable wastes like paper pulp, saw dust, packaging and cardboard leftovers. Different kinds of mushrooms cultures were used to develop mycelium ranging from Ecovative’s Grow-It-Yourself kit, liquid mycelium syringes to organically growing and collecting spores at home.
Manufacturing
For getting the right consistency of the extrusion, the hygiene and conditions part is crucial. In order to test and improve on the mechanical and structural properties of the material, numerous mixtures of biocomposites were extruded either manually or through automated 3D printers.
Product
Additive manufacturing of mycelium-based biomaterials offers several benefits for product development. Mycelium is a sustainable and versatile material that can be grown to any shape and size using 3D printing technology. It is biodegradable, compostable, and can replace traditional materials such as plastics and foams. Additionally, mycelium-based products have a low carbon footprint and can contribute to a circular economy by being easily recycled or reused.
Plan
Using biomaterial alternatives in industry level applications may prove to be crucial in bringing about net positive change and making manufacturing processes regenerative. Through 3D printing, we get the opportunity to design molds and shape mycelium growth any way we imagine. Packaging, furniture, lamps and leather are some ways mycelium is already being used on a larger scale. We intend to pursue this idea that would require mass adoption through education and application of biomaterials.
