The fungal mycelium-based composite is a new biomaterial to replace the existing composite material. To compete with lightweight, high-performance composites represented by fiber-reinforced plastic, various physical and chemical properties and functionality must be secured. Especially, the composite material made by using mushroom mycelium (or fruting bodies) is called mushroom plastic. Currently, Ecovative, Mycoworks, and Muskin in USA and Europe are launching new products including structural materials and leathers. Products utilizing mushroom mycelium can be launched in the market for construction materials, automobile interior materials and artificial leather substitutes. In spite of this high possibility, mass production using FMBC has not yet been reported. This presentation introduces the mycelium-based materials, a material that can replace existing plastics, inorganic building materials and animal skins in an environmentally and economically viable way, and looks at the possibility of future biomaterials by summarizing recent research contents.

• Hyun-Jae Shin(Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Chosun University)