Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Materials Today Sustainability

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and fire-safe materials has driven increasing interest in mycelium-based composites derived from fungal mycelia and lignocellulosic residues. Owing to their lightweight structure, low thermal conductivity, sound insulation, biodegradability, and circular-economy potential, these materials are emerging as promising alternatives to petroleum-derived foams and polymers in construction, packaging, and energy-related applications. However, the baseline intrinsic fire-safety behaviour of native fungal cells remains limited, as untreated mycelium typically shows low limiting oxygen index values and rapid ignition under flame exposure. To address this challenge, it is critical to distinguish baseline intrinsic fire behaviour originating from native fungal cell-wall constituents from post-fabrication engineering-intervention strategies for flame-retardant functionalization. The engineering-intervention approaches fall into four major categories: processing- densification tuning, inorganic/mineral incorporation, bio-based/organic modification, and hybrid interfacial- multiscale engineering. These engineered interventions can enhance char formation, suppress heat release, and improve thermal stability, thereby expanding the application potential of mycelium-based materials in fire- sensitive fields. This review summarizes recent advances in the applications, structural design, and flame- retardant modification of mycelium composites, with particular emphasis on the underlying mechanisms and representative fire-performance metrics, while also discussing current challenges and future perspectives for their large-scale adoption.

DOI

10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101463

Publication Date

20-10-2026

Language

eng

Rights

open access

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