Fracture and Toughening of Mycelium-based Biocomposites

Precious O. Etinosa; Ali A. Salifu; Sarah Osafo; Stanley C. Eluu; John D. Obayemi; Winston O. Soboyejo

Materials & Design (Jan 2024)

Fracture and Toughening of Mycelium-based Biocomposites

Precious O. Etinosa,
Ali A. Salifu,
Sarah Osafo,
Stanley C. Eluu,
John D. Obayemi,
Winston O. Soboyejo

Affiliations

Precious O. Etinosa: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
Ali A. Salifu: Department of Engineering, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
Sarah Osafo: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Ghana, Ghana
Stanley C. Eluu: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria
John D. Obayemi: Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), WPI Life Science and Bioengineering, 60 Prescott Street, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
Winston O. Soboyejo: Department of Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502, USA; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 237
p. 112592

Abstract

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This study presents a combined experimental and analytical study of the fracture behavior and toughening mechanisms of bioprocessed mycelium-based biocomposites. The composites comprise hemicellulose hemp ducts (as nutritional and reinforcing components) intertwined with increasing weight percentages of laterite particles. Single-edge notched fracture experiments and in-situ observations of crack growth were used to explore the effects of varying proportions of laterite on the composite resistance-curve behavior. The toughening mechanisms, fracture modes, and crack-microstructure interactions were also elucidated. Since crack-bridging and crack-deflection were observed to be the dominant toughening mechanisms, they were modeled using fracture mechanics approaches. Crack-bridging was shown to dominate the toughening at lower weight fractions of laterite (0–20 wt%). However, as the laterite content increases (20–40 wt%), a combination of crack-bridging and crack-deflection was observed. Finally, at higher laterite weight fractions (>40 wt%), crack-tip shielding occurred primarily via crack deflection. The fracture mechanics predictions of resistance-curve behavior are shown to be consistent with the experimental measurements. The results suggest that mycelium-based and mycelium-laterite composites can be engineered with tunable fracture toughness. The implications of the results are also discussed for the development of sustainable building materials.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

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