Mycelium with reduced coefficient of friction and abrasion resistance through mechanical alteration of mycelial surface microstructure

A mycelium in contact with an apparatus, the mycelium apparatus combination comprising:

• a. a first mycelium layer in contact with an apparatus that applies both pressure and kinetic friction forces along a vector less than perpendicular and not parallel to the upper surface so as to alter a microstructure of the mycelium;
• b. wherein the mycelium exhibits a ratio of specular reflection to diffuse reflection of greater than 0.05;
• c. whereby the coefficient of static friction is calculated by the equation μs=tan(θ), where μs is the calculated coefficient of friction tan(θ) is the tangent of the angle of slip onset, wherein said first mycelium piece is flattened and attached to a tilted surface, and wherein the second mycelium piece is placed loosely on top of the first mycelium piece;
• and
• d. wherein the mycelium is completely biodegradable.

A method for determining coefficient of friction of a microstructure of a mycelium, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing the mycelium having a first mycelium layer;
• b. enabling the first mycelium layer to contact with an abrasive and pressure apparatus utilizing a directional force of at least 10N per square foot, thereby altering the microstructure of the mycelium;
• c. reducing the coefficient of friction of a mycelium surface thereby improving a plurality of mechanical properties of the microstructure of the mycelium;
• and
• d. calculating the reduced quantity of coefficient of friction utilizing a tilt angle mechanism.

A method for determining coefficient of friction of a microstructure of a mycelium, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing the mycelium having a first mycelium layer;
• b. enabling the first mycelium layer to contact with an abrasive and pressure apparatus utilizing a directional force thereby altering the microstructure of the mycelium;
• c. reducing the coefficient of friction of a mycelium surface thereby improving an abrasion resistance of the microstructure of the mycelium;
• d. determining the reduced quantity of coefficient of friction utilizing a tilt angle mechanism, the coefficient of friction being determined by:
• i. flattening a first mycelium piece;
• ii. attaching the first mycelium piece with a plane surface;
• iii. placing a second mycelium piece loosely on a top portion of the first mycelium piece;
• iv. tilting the plane surface utilizing a tilt force until the second mycelium piece freely slides off the first mycelium piece;
• and
• v. determining the quantity of coefficient of friction by measuring an angle at which the second mycelium piece freely slides off the first mycelium piece, wherein the calculated coefficient of friction is given by the equation, μs=tan(θ), where ‘θ’ is the angle at which the second mycelium piece freely slips and μs is the calculated coefficient of friction.