One of the weak points of mycelium composites is that they are not very water resistant. Within the wood industry there is already a technology to make wood more water resistant: acetylation. The cellulose chains that wood consists of are chemically modified so that a water-repellent group is placed on the outside of the chain. This ensures that the wood can withstand water a lot better and retains its strength when wet.
Within the Water-resistant Mycelium Composites project, we will see whether we can also apply this technique to mycelium composites, and test whether they have the desired effect. The goal is to have a reproducible acetylation procedure at the end of the project, and concrete material data to build on.
Partners:
20220201 until 20230131
