Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
AssigneeThe Fynder Group, Inc.
InventorsBrendan Allen Stewart, Larry Andrew Alegria, Ryan Jacob Totman, Yuval Charles Avniel
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Abstract
Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.
Claims38
A method for preparing a durable sheet material comprising fungal biomass, comprising:
- (a) causing a solution to infiltrate an inactivated fungal biomass, the solution comprising a solvent and a component selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a crosslinker, and combinations and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (b) curing the biomass to remove solvent from the biomass and form the durable sheet material.
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A textile composition, comprising:
- an inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- at least one component selected from the group consisting of a plasticizer, a polymer, a crosslinker, and a dye,
- wherein the at least one component is distributed in the fungal mycelial biomass.
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A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- (a) contacting an inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising calcium hydroxide to form a limed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (b) contacting the limed inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising ammonium sulfate to form a delimed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) contacting the delimed inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a polymer to form a pickled inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) contacting the pickled inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a crosslinker to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (e) contacting the tanned inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a plasticizer to form a plasticized inactivated fungal biomass;
- (f) drying the plasticized inactivated fungal biomass to form a dried inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- (g) heat-pressing the dried inactivated fungal biomass to form the durable sheet material.
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A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- (a) inactivating a fungal biomass by boiling the biomass in water;
- (b) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising calcium hydroxide to form a limed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) contacting the limed inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising ammonium sulfate to form a delimed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) contacting the delimed inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising an alkali metal halide to form a pickled inactivated fungal biomass;
- (e) contacting the pickled inactivated fungal biomass with a first crosslinker to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (f) contacting the tanned inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising at least one of a second crosslinker and a polymer to form a re-tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (g) contacting the re-tanned inactivated fungal biomass with a fatliquoring oil to form a fatliquored inactivated fungal biomass;
- (h) adhering a non-fungal textile backing to the inactivated fungal biomass to form a backed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (i) heat-pressing the backed inactivated fungal biomass to form a heat-pressed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (j) drying the heat-pressed inactivated fungal biomass to form a dried inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- (k) applying at least one of a finishing wax, a finishing oil, and nitrocellulose to the dried inactivated fungal biomass to form the durable sheet material.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.