Mycelium is the root part of fungi, composed of filamentous strands of fine white hyphae. Among the various materials used, mycelium has the potential to be a sustainable and more attractive alternative to most of the available binder matrices. Thus, new solutions with bio-based resins with a lower environmental impact are being investigated globally. The sustainability issues arising from the use of synthetic and non-renewable resins and binders in the engineered wood industry are well known. The paper presents preliminary experiment results showing the effect of veneer reinforcements on increasing bending resistance, discusses the potential benefits of combining wood veneer and mycelium’s distinct material properties, and highlights methods for the design and production of architectural components. Additionally, the tensile strength of the reinforcement joints was examined and proved to be stronger than the material itself. Compression, pull-out, and three-point bending tests comparing the unreinforced samples to the veneer-reinforced samples were performed, revealing improvements on the bending resistance of the reinforced samples.

As base materials, Ganoderma lucidum and hemp hurds for mycelium growth and maple veneer for reinforcement were pre-selected for this study. This creates a novel, 100% bio-based, wood-veneer-reinforced mycelium composite. Therefore, this research focuses on improving the structural performance of mycelium composites for interior use through custom robotic additive manufacturing processes that integrate continuous wood fibers into the mycelial matrix as reinforcement. However, due to its low tensile, flexural and shear strength, mycelium is not currently widely used commercially in the construction industry. Mycelium, as a rapidly renewable, low-carbon natural material that can withstand compressive forces and has inherent acoustic and fire-resistance properties, could be a potential solution to this problem. The looming environmental consequences have triggered the search for sustainable alternatives. The demand for building materials has been constantly increasing, which leads to excessive energy consumption for their provision.

Veneer clean regular font free download