Mycomodul

DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MYCELIUM COMPOSITES FOR APPLICATION IN FAÇADE SYSTEMS

The aim of the Mycomodul project is to develop functionally graded materials from mycelium-based composites (MBCs) that meet the requirements of building envelopes. The grading should allow the properties of the building components to be tailored to the external and internal conditions of the building.

This is not currently possible with existing homogeneous mycelium-based composites. The project will therefore investigate material compositions that are both suitable for use in the fabrication process and have sufficient performance characteristics for the façade panels produced.

The focus is on the possible applications in the construction industry. In the long term, the Mycomodul façade components aim to provide an alternative to today's composite façade products, which are often made of inorganic materials that are irreversibly bonded to each other. This material complexity of façade systems reduces their economic and ecological recyclability and makes their disposal more difficult. The functionally graded MBCs should combine different functionalities while preserving their recyclability potential by limiting their internal composition to different bio-based substrates and fungal mycelium.

The extent to which a graded mycelial composite component can replace a current façade system, will be tested on a final 1:1 scale demonstrator element installed in a real building setting.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Prof. Martin Ostermann
Institute of Building Technology and Design (IBK), University of Stuttgart

TEAM

Eliza Biala (IBK)
Andreas Schedler (IBK)
Simon Vogt (IBK)

FUNDING

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Ideenwettbewerb Biologisierung der Technik