Composite material
The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The composite material is made by inoculating a substrate of discrete particles and a nutrient material with a preselected fungus. The fungus digests the nutrient material over a period of time sufficient to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around the discrete particles thereby bonding the discrete particles together to form a self-supporting composite material.
1. A self-supporting composite material comprising
a substrate of discrete particles; and
a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around all of said discrete particles to fully colonize said substrate and bond said discrete particles together.
2. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of at least one of vermiculite and perlite.
3. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of at least one of straw, hay, hemp, wool, cotton and recycled sawdust.
4. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles include synthetic insulating particles.
5. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 4 wherein said synthetic insulating particles include foam based products and polymers.
6. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles are in the form of fibers.
7. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 further comprising elements in said substrate having a dimension 5 times larger than the mean diameter of the largest average particle size.
8. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 7 wherein said elements are at least one of rods, cubes, panels, and lattices.
9. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 7 wherein said elements are selected from the group including conduit, electrical wiring, electrical outlets, light switches, sensors, temperature controls, window frames, door jambs, and piping.
10. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one mechanical element at least partially embedded in said substrate and having a dimension 5 times larger than the mean diameter of the largest average particle size.
11. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 10 wherein said element is selected from the group including conduits, electrical wiring and electrical outlets.
12. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a stiff sheet of material bonded thereto.
13. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 characterized in having a rectangular panel shape and further comprising a stiff sheet of material bonded to at least one side thereof.
14. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 characterized in being a thin flexible mat.
15. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 1 characterized
in being a fire wall wherein said discrete particles include perlite, rice hulls and vermiculite.
16. A self-supporting composite material comprising
a substrate of discrete bulking particles; and
a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around all of said discrete particles to fully colonize said substrate and bond said discrete bulking particles together.
17. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 16 wherein said particles are in the form of fibers.
18. A self-supporting composite material as set forth in claim 16 characterized in having a rectangular panel shape and further comprising a stiff sheet of material bonded to at least one side thereof.