The Development of Leather-like Laminate Sheet from Ganoderma Sp. Mycelium for Wall Finishing

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Ganoderma mushroom mycelium as a sustainable material for the development of laminated sheets designed for wall surface applications with a leather-like texture. The research aims to explore both the production process and the application of these sheets in forming the structure and appearance of frame walls in architecture. The laminated sheets were fabricated by cultivating Ganoderma mycelium into panels measuring 15 x 15 cm. with a thickness of 1.2 mm. The sheets were hot-pressed at 100°C for 10 minutes, and then soaked in a 30% glycerol plasticizer solution, and coated with a biodegradable film made from mung bean starch. The physical and mechanical properties of the sheets were tested, including tensile strength, surface flexibility, and elongation at break. The results showed a tensile strength of 4.14 MPa, a surface flexibility angle of 11.33 degrees, and an elongation at break of 183.01%. The material was applied to architectural practice through a shingle-layering technique over a wooden framework. Reclaimed wood panels from a dismantled wooden building were reused to assemble the walls. After use, the laminated sheets could be removed and biodegraded through soil burial without negatively affecting the soil's pH value. This demonstrates the material’s potential for circular design and sustainable architectural applications.