Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A tray handler for transporting a tray into or out from a selectable position within a tray stack stowed in the tray handler has an unload station to stow a tray during a sort procedure, a tray elevator configured to vertically transport the tray stack to the selectable position such that the tray is positioned to be horizontally received from or by the unload station, and a separator above the tray elevator and coupled to the unload station, the separator configured to vertically split the tray stack for opening the selectable position and horizontally transporting the tray into or out from the unload station.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, and a porous material. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, a porous material and a lid. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration having a substrate weight to surrounding space volume ratio between 0.5 and 5.0 g/cc, an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate volume between 0.01 and 1.0, and an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate area is between 0.5 and 5 cc/cm, wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for growing a solid substrate-bound mycelium through which the mycelium composite is easily and readily removed. This is achieved through the use of a perforation layer embedded between the mycelium substrate and the mycelium composite so as to create a uniform structural weakness and thereby enhancing harvesting abilities of the ex-substrate mycelium via a greatly reduced and uniform tear strength. The perforation layer, through which the mycelium grows, allows for the gated and controlled extrusion of a matrix of colonial cells that may be easily and uniformly delaminated from the underlying mycelium substrate.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant finish for a fungal material, the finishing comprising an optimum quantity biodegradable polylactic acid plastic (PLA) dispersed in water to produce a PLA mixture. When the PLA mixture is applied to the fungal material, water carries the PLA deeply into the matrix of the fungal hyphae to a depth at least 2 N/10 mm or 1% of the thickness of the fungal material, whichever is greater. The finish fortifies the hyphal structure as the water evaporates and creates a PLA coating on the fungal material with improved abrasion resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: A mycelium growth bed for optimal production of pure mycelium or a pure mycelium composite with controlled or predictable properties, the bed comprising a tray, a conveying platform, a permeable membrane, a substrate, a porous material and a lid. The permeable membrane is positioned on the conveying platform within the tray. The substrate is positioned on the permeable membrane and the porous material is positioned on top of the substrate. The system provides a configuration having a substrate weight to surrounding space volume ratio between 0.5 and 5.0 g/cc, an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate volume between 0.01 and 1.0, and an air volume (surrounding space) to substrate area is between 0.5 and 5 cc/cm, wherein the CO2 concentration is held above 3%, the relative humidity is held above 40% and the O2 concentration is held below 20% in steady state conditions to produce leather-like mycelium without fruiting bodies.

Abstract: A method for reducing and determining coefficient of friction of a mycelium for improving a plurality of mechanical properties of the mycelium. In the method, a first mycelium layer is contacted with an abrasive and pressure apparatus for smoothing and altering a microstructure of the mycelium. The smoothing of the mycelium microstructure reduces the coefficient of friction of the mycelium thereby enhancing the abrasion resistance of the mycelium. The coefficient of friction of the mycelium surface reduced through smoothing of the mycelium surface is determined utilizing a tilt angle mechanism.