5 September 2023 – The scientific community has been working on low-carbon building materials for a while. But scientists have found a method to make mycelium concrete, or myocrete, that could revolutionise the building construction sector.
Concrete is a staple of the building construction sector, because it’s easy and cheap to produce. It’s also an incredible strong material, which is its most important feature.
However, concrete has a high environmental impact, as it contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. So the quicker we can find a low-carbon alternative, the better.
A group of scientists has now published a paper about a new method to create mycelium concrete or myocrete that could revolutionise the building construction sector and turn it green.
8% Of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Due To Concrete Production
While concrete is an incredible useful material, its use and production comes at a huge cost for our environment. That’s why it is important to find a green alternative.
Concrete is made of sand and gravel. Sourcing these through mining has a negative impact on our environment as it destroys natural ecosystems. To turn these raw materials into concrete, huge amounts of water are needed.
Water is a very precious resource that we need to live. There are already areas and communities in the world that suffer from an acute lack of water.
The sand, gravel and water is then heated in very large kilns, which are powered by burning fossil fuels. Overall, the production of concrete is responsible for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
That makes it the second-largest source of carbon emissions globally. And that’s not yet all. Concrete is extremely heavy, so transporting it uses a lot of energy. Given that concrete is the most used building material, its environmental impact is huge.
Attempts have been made to reduce the environmental impact of concrete manufacturing. The kilns used nowadays to heat the raw materials are much more efficient, so they don’t need as much heat.
However, while such changes make a small difference, they can’t eliminate the enormous impact concrete has on our environment.
Our only option is to replace concrete with a low-carbon alternative. Materials such as mass timber are one such alternative. But there is a new material that could revolutionise the building construction industry: mushrooms.
Mycelium concrete, also called myocrete, could be the answer to our problem with concrete. Scientists have researched mycelium for a while, but now researchers from Newcastle University have created a new method to make the mycelium concrete that could be a turning point.
Myocrete: Growing Lightweight, Eco-Friendly Construction Materials
The traditional method of making composites from mycelium works by mixing spores with grains and materials they can grow on. The grains are a food source that allow the mycelium to grow.
The mixture is then put into a mould and placed in a dark, warm and humid environment. These are the perfect growing conditions for fungi. As the mycelium grows, it binds together the substrate tightly until it fills out the mould completely.
When the material has reached the right density, it’s dried out. However, it’s important that the drying out process starts before the fungus produces fruiting bodies, like mushrooms.
Because the materials that can be used as food sources and growing supports are varied and easy to get, this is a very cheap method of making sustainable building materials. It could replace materials such as foam, timber and plastic, according to researchers.
However, the mycelium also needs oxygen to grow, which limits the size and shape the moulds can be. This means it also limits its application. However, Newcastle University scientists have created a new method that can overcome these limitations.
By using knitted moulds as a flexible “formwork”, the scientists were able to create a composite that was more versatile in terms of shape and form, as well as being stronger. They called their new composite myocrete.
Knitting is an incredibly versatile 3D-manufacturing system. It is lightweight, flexible and formable. The major advantage of knitting technology compared to other textile processes is the ability to knit 3D structures and forms with no seams and no waste.
Dr Jane Scott, Newcastle University
The team of scientists tested the new myocrete samples and compared the results with conventionally made mycelium composites. The new method won hands down, coming out as stronger. And another advantage of the new method was discovered.
Because the knitted mould allowed for more oxygen to reach the fungus, the sample shrank less while drying. This means it will give more consistent manufacturing results.
The results of this new research show that it is possible to turn the building construction sector green.
The mechanical performance of the myocrete used in combination with permanent knitted formwork is a significant result, and a step towards the use of mycelium and textile biohybrids within construction.
Dr Jane Scott, Newcastle University
