Back to results
US 2024/0068141 A1Published application
Fungal textile materials and leather analogs
AssigneeThe Fynder Group, Inc.
InventorsBrendan Allen STEWART, Larry Andrew ALEGRIA, Ryan Jacob TOTMAN, Yuval Charles AVNIEL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims80
A method for preparing a durable sheet material comprising fungal biomass, comprising:
- (a) culturing a filamentous fungus in or on a fermentation medium, wherein the fermentation medium is an air-medium colloid (AMC), to form a biomass of the filamentous fungus;
- (b) inactivating the biomass to form an inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) causing a solution to infiltrate the 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
- (d) curing the biomass to remove solvent from the biomass and form the durable sheet material.
2 more elements
A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- a) culturing a filamentous fungus in or on a fermentation medium, wherein the fermentation medium is an air-medium colloid (AMC), to form a biomass of the filamentous fungus;
- (b) inactivating the biomass to form an inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a crosslinker to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) contacting the tanned inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a plasticizer to form a plasticized inactivated fungal biomass;
- (e) drying the plasticized inactivated fungal biomass to form a dried inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- (f) heat-pressing the dried inactivated fungal biomass to form the durable sheet material.
4 more elements
A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- a) culturing a filamentous fungus in or on a fermentation medium, wherein the fermentation medium is an air-medium colloid (AMC), to form a biomass of the filamentous fungus;
- (b) inactivating the fungal biomass by boiling the biomass in water;
- (c) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with a first crosslinker to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) 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;
- (e) contacting the re-tanned inactivated fungal biomass with a fatliquoring oil to form a fatliquored inactivated fungal biomass;
- (f) adhering a non-fungal textile backing to the inactivated fungal biomass to form a backed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (g) heat-pressing the backed inactivated fungal biomass to form a heat-pressed inactivated fungal biomass;
- (h) drying the heat-pressed inactivated fungal biomass to form a dried inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- (i) 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.
7 more elements
A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- (a) culturing a filamentous fungus in or on a fermentation medium to form a fungal biomass;
- (b) inactivating the fungal biomass to form an inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising at least one carboxymethyl group-containing compound to form a pre-tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising at least one crosslinking or tanning agent to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (e) contacting the tanned inactivated fungal biomass with at least one plasticizer in aqueous solution to form a re-tanned and plasticized inactivated fungal biomass;
- (f) drying the re-tanned and 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.
5 more elements
A method for making a durable sheet material, comprising:
- (a) culturing a filamentous fungus in or on a fermentation medium to form a fungal biomass;
- (b) inactivating the fungal biomass to form an inactivated fungal biomass;
- (c) contacting the inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising at least one carboxymethyl group-containing compound to form a pre-tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (d) contacting the pre-tanned inactivated fungal biomass with at least one vegetable tannin in aqueous solution and at least one inorganic tanning agent in aqueous solution to form a tanned inactivated fungal biomass;
- (e) contacting the tanned inactivated fungal biomass with an aqueous solution comprising a pH neutralizing agent to form a neutralized inactivated fungal biomass;
- (f) contacting the neutralized inactivated fungal biomass with at least one plasticizer in aqueous solution to form a re-tanned and plasticized inactivated fungal biomass;
- (g) drying the re-tanned and plasticized inactivated fungal biomass to form a dried inactivated fungal biomass;
- and
- (h) heat-pressing the sheet material to form the durable sheet material.
6 more elements
A fungal biomat, comprising:
- first and second outer fungal layers;
- and
- an inner fungal layer, wherein the inner fungal layer is disposed between the first and second outer fungal layers and a density of fungal filaments in the inner layer is less than a density of fungal filaments in both the first outer fungal layer and the second outer fungal layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.