Injection molded mycelium and method
A method of making a molded part, including forming a liquid aggregate from a mixture of ground aggregate and a fluid. A fungal inoculum and the liquid aggregate are injected into a first mold cavity. The first mold cavity is sealed against a second mold cavity. Live mycelium is grown from the fungal inoculum to fill the first and second mold cavities. The live mycelium is cured to terminate further growth and develop a formed substrate.
1. A method of making a molded part, comprising:
forming a mixture of a fungal inoculum, a nutrient source for the fungal inoculum, and a liquid;
injecting the mixture into a first mold cavity;
sealing the first mold cavity against a second mold cavity;
growing live mycelium from the fungal inoculum to fill the first and second mold cavities to form a first molded part;
curing the live mycelium to terminate further growth;
separating the first mold cavity and the second mold cavity;
injecting a mycelium slurry over the first molded part in the first mold cavity;
sealing the first mold cavity against a third mold cavity;
growing live mycelium from the mycelium slurry to form a second molded part over the first molded part; and
curing the live mycelium of the second molded part to terminate further growth and develop a dual mycelium molded part made up of the first molded part and the second molded part.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pressurizing a space between the first and second mold cavities.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a vehicle coverstock over the dual mycelium molded part.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
edge trimming the dual mycelium molded part.