Additive manufacturing for the production of fungal composites
A04
Research Area:
Experimental Materials Science
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Berlin | Institute of Material Science and Technologies
Department:
Advanced Ceramic Materials
Principal Investigator:
Ulla Simon
Sub-project A04 is run by junior scientist Dr.-Ing. Ulla Simon (Advanced Ceramic Materials, TUB). The main goal of the sub-project is to advance the understanding and applicability of additive manufacturing (AM) for manufacturing complex fungal composites.
Besides the AM process itself (paste development, CAD model, printing, deactivation) and the printing of parts with defined shapes and surface structures, this sub-project focuses on investigating the growth of F. fomentarius and its manipulation as this turned out to be the decisive factor for precise extrusion-based AM. Understanding and adjusting the factors impacting fungal growth will enable the extrusion-based AM of homogeneous fungal composites with improved dimensional accuracy, higher mechanical strength, and tailored materials properties.
Sub-project A04 is carried out in close collaboration with A08, delivers 3D-printed composites to be analysed by B01 – B03, C01, and provides input on fungal growth to A01 – A03 and scalability of 3D-printing to C02 and C03.