3D Printing with Fungal Bio-Composites
In this experiment, I developed a composite material made of mycelium substrate, cornstarch, water, and clay, which was processed through a clay-based 3D printer. The aim was to investigate both the material properties and adaptability of fungal-based materials, including elasticity, thermal and humidity response, and structural strength, as well as the optimization of digital fabrication techniques such as printer hardware (extrusion head and heating elements).
The printed prototypes demonstrate the transformation of a clay–mycelium composite through 3D extrusion and subsequent fungal growth. The initial form, produced by a clay-based 3D printer, shows precise layered deposition with sharp edges and geometric definition. Over time, as the mycelium colonized the structure, the surface developed a textural shift: smooth printed layers gradually became softened and covered with white fungal growth, visually blurring the boundaries of each layer.
This dual state highlights the material’s hybrid nature, both digitally fabricated and biologically alive. The printed geometry (curved and honeycomb-inspired forms) maintains structural integrity, while the fungal activity contributes to new surface qualities, increased porosity, and biological reinforcement. Close-up views reveal the fibrous density and bonding capacity of the mycelium, suggesting potential for applications in sustainable architectural components where strength, adaptability, and organic aesthetics are equally important.
The research also explored the integration of material and structure, examining how fungal composites perform when printed into complex architectural geometries (curved and honeycomb forms), and how they can maintain strength, stability, and design integrity throughout the growth and fabrication process.
