METHODS OF GENERATING MYCELIUM MATERIALS WITH IMPROVED PROPERTIES
Provided herein are compositions of mycelium material, and methods for production thereof. Also provided herein are articles of footwear includes an upper, a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith, and an outsole coupled with the upper opposite the lasting board. The upper includes at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium.
1 . A method, comprising:
a. generating a cultivated mycelium material;
b. contacting the cultivated mycelium material with a solution comprising one or more proteins to produce a composition comprising the cultivated mycelium material and one or more proteins, wherein the one or more proteins are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated; and
c. pressing the cultivated mycelium material.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises submerging the cultivated mycelium material in the solution.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises contacting the cultivated mycelium material with the solution in a single step.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises contacting the cultivated mycelium material with the solution in one or more steps.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant.
8 . The method of claim 1 , the solution comprises a dye.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition is colored with the dye to produce a color, and the color of the cultivated mycelium material is substantially uniform on one or more surfaces of the cultivated mycelium material.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the dye is penetrated throughout the interior of the composition.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises a plasticizer.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin, and fat liquor.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is flexible.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked with transglutaminase.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises an enzyme.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the enzyme comprises transglutaminase.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.1 inch to 0.5 inch.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.25 inch.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressing is repeated one or more times.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.25 inch.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material with a roller.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises tannins.
25 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising incubating the composition.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the incubating comprises incubating the composition at a set temperature for a set amount of time.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the set temperature is 40° C.
28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising drying the composition.
29 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a finishing agent to one or more surfaces of the composition.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the finishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: urethane, wax, nitrocellulose, or a plasticizer.
31 . A composition comprising a cultivated mycelium material and one or more proteins, wherein the one or more proteins are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated.
32 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source.
33 . The composition of claim 32 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant.
34 . The composition of claim 32 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant.
35 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises a dye.
36 . The composition of claim 35 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye.
37 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises a plasticizer.
38 . The composition of claim 37 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin and fat liquor.
39 . The composition of claim 37 , wherein the composition is flexible.
40 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked.
41 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked with transglutaminase.
42 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises an enzyme.
43 . The composition of claim 42 , wherein the enzyme comprises transglutaminase.
44 . A composition comprising a cultivated mycelium material colored with a dye to produce a color, and wherein the color of the cultivated mycelium material is substantially uniform on one or more surfaces of the cultivated mycelium material.
45 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye.
46 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises one or more proteins that are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated.
47 . The composition of claim 46 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source.
48 . The composition of claim 47 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant.
49 . The composition of claim 47 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant.
50 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the dye is penetrated throughout the interior of the composition.
51 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises a plasticizer.
52 . The composition of claim 51 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin, and fat liquor.
53 . The composition of claim 51 , wherein the composition is flexible.
54 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises tannins.
55 . The composition of claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises a finishing agent applied to one or more surfaces of the composition.
56 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the finishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: urethane, wax, nitrocellulose, or a plasticizer.
57 . An article of footwear, comprising:
a. an upper;
b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;
c. an outsole coupled with the upper opposite the lasting board;
d. wherein the upper includes at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium.
58 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper comprises a plurality of portions of the mycelium material in respective implementations thereof having different physical properties.
59 . The article of footwear of claim 58 , wherein the different physical properties are selected to correlate with desired characteristics of the corresponding locations of the portions within the upper.
60 . The article of footwear of claim 59 , wherein one of the portions of the mycelium material includes a vamp, the respective implementation of the mycelium material having higher relative flexibility compared to at least one of the portion.
61 . The article of footwear of claim 59 , wherein one of the portions of the mycelium material includes a heel counter, the respective implementation of the mycelium material having higher relative rigidity compared to at least one of the portion.
62 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the mycelium material is at least one of tanned and dyed to resemble leather.
63 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , further including a midsole affixed with the lasting board, the outsole being affixed with the midsole so as to be coupled with the upper.
64 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper comprises a plurality of discrete portions of the mycelium material.
65 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using at least one of: topstitching, felled stitching, and stitch and turn construction.
66 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using at least one of: solvent-based adhesive, UV curing adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, and water-based adhesive.
67 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein at least one of the portions is split to resemble suede leather.
68 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein at least one of the portions includes an edge thinned by skivving.
69 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using heat bonding.
70 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein the upper further includes at least one additional portion of a textile material.
71 . The article of footwear of claim 64 , wherein the textile material is thermoplastic and is affixed with at least one of the portions of the mycelium material by heat bonding.
72 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper includes interfacing assembled with a portion thereof.
73 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , including perforations along a portion thereof.
74 . The article of footwear of claim 73 , wherein the perforations vary in at least one of size and relative spacing over an area of the upper.
75 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper is laser etched along a portion thereof.
76 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper includes at least one reinforcing portion injection molded thereon.
77 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper includes at least one 3-D printed element fused therewith.
78 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein at least a portion of the upper includes at least one portion molded in a three dimensional shape.
79 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the upper is comprised of a single molded piece of the mycelium material.
80 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein the mycelium material includes a plurality of bonded layers of the mycelium material in respective implementations thereof having different physical properties.
81 . The article of footwear of claim 57 , wherein at least one of the lasting board and the out-sole includes at least a portion of the mycelium material.
82 . An athletic sneaker, comprising:
a. an upper including at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium;
b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;
c. a midsole of a foam material and affixed with the lasting board; and
d. an outsole of a rubber material and affixed with the midsole opposite the lasting board;
e. wherein the mycelium material is at least one of tanned and dyed to resemble leather, and the upper is configured and assembled to resemble athletic footwear of leather.
83 . An athletic sneaker, comprising:
a. an upper including at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium;
b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;
c. a midsole of a foam material and affixed with the lasting board; and
d. an outsole of a rubber material and affixed with the midsole opposite the lasting board;
e. wherein the upper includes at least one portion molded in a three dimensional shape.