Plasticized mycelium composite and method

• US 8,227,225 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings LLC (Ford Motor Company), Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rocco, Charles Alan, Kalisz, Raymond Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David
• Application Number:
  US12/797,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20110269209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/180
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/08 the carrier being a synthetic polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1348 Cellular material derived from plant or animal source [e.g., wood, cotton, wool, leather, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]

Abstract

A method of making a plasticized mycelium structure, including dissolving a soluble polymer in a liquid thereby forming a polymer solution of polymer particles. The polymer solution is combined with a fungal inoculum capable of growing hyphae in the presence of an aggregate. The resulting mixture is allowed to grow into a mycelium network. The mycelium network is made up of hyphae which bond with the polymer particles found in the polymer solution forming a structure substantially made up of mycelium that has a plasticizer homogenously distributed throughout the structure. The structure is cured to terminate mycelium growth.

Claims

1. A method of making a mycelium structure, comprising:

dissolving a soluble plastic film having insoluble polymer particles in a liquid to form a solution of polymer particles;

combining the solution of polymer particles with a fungal inoculum and a nutrient source for the inoculum to form a mixture;

growing a live mycelium network that bonds with the polymer particles to form a plasticized structure; and

terminating growth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of combining the solution of polymer particles with a fungal inoculum further comprises:

a fungal inoculum selected from the group consisting of Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus ostreatus var, columbines, Grifola frondosa, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma oregonense, Lentinula edodes, Agrocybe aegerita, or Coprinus Comatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of combining the solution of polymer particles with a fungal inoculum and a nutrient source further comprises:

providing a nutrient source including a fibrous material from a plant to feed the fungal inoculum.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing a nutrient source including a fibrous material from a plant further comprises:

providing a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of coconut, rice, corn, and cotton.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of combining the solution of polymer particles with a fungal inoculum and a nutrient source further comprises:

providing a nutrient source having lignin.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of terminating growth further comprises:

heating the structure to a sufficient temperature for a sufficient period of time to terminate growth.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of heating the structure to a sufficient temperature for a sufficient period of time to terminate growth further comprises:

heating the structure to a temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one day.

8. A vehicle part comprising:

a body portion

comprising the mycelium structure produced by the method of claim 1.