Mycelium Foam (burnt)

This fungus-based foam is being used instead of expanded polystyrene as an alternative packaging material and as a flame-retardant architectural insulation and cladding material. It’s made by growing fungus on a feedstock of locally-sourced agricultural waste like hemp, straw and rice husks. As the root structure of the fungus – the mycelium - grows, it produces a natural polymer (chitin) that binds together the waste materials into this fibrous composite.

This material’s claim of insulating against extremes of temperature was tested live on TV by our own Zoe Laughlin as part of BBC’s The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age. In order to put it to the test, Zoe fired a blowtorch at the base of a chunk of the mycelium foam and placed a frozen choc ice on top. As the torch reached over 1000° the mycelium began to burn and the steel of the oven rack began to glow, but when the flame was removed the foam self-extinguished. After a few minutes of heating, the bottom of the mycelium was charred but the choc ice remained completely unmelted, much to Zoe’s delectation!

A clip of Zoe and her blow-torch in action can be found here.