The present embodiment relates to faux leather or vegan leather, and more particularly to a leather-like composite material obtained from growing fungal species on flowers.
BACKGROUND
In the present day, a range of materials, for a range of purposes, is being grown or manufactured today using several starting materials. The most prominent materials especially for more prominent purposes are usually manufactured using several chemicals, minerals, ores, fossils etc. The materials have also been prepared using trees, plants and animals for several purposes and such materials are called grown materials. The production of many materials and composites produces significant hazardous environmental effects in form of pollution that is caused by their production and processing, as well as their non-biodegradability or recalcitrance.
One such material is leather obtained from the hides of animals such as goats, buffalo, etc. The material is either obtained from dead animals or the animals are grown to have them culled for such purposes. While the practice has been prevalent from ancient times, it has come under severe criticism in recent times. However, the appeal and aesthetic of leather products remain unmatched, and therefore, it has been long desired to have a leather-like material providing a leather-like appearance that can be used in bags, apparels, upholstery, footwear, and other such industries. Faux leather or synthetic leather has been developed to replace the grown leather or natural leather e.g., prestoff, made from paper pulp but which loses cohesion under wear and moisture; rexine, which is made from nitrocellulose, camphor, alcohol and pigment; however, rexine fails to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the leather; poromerics, made from polyurethane; however, it is not aesthetically appealing to sense of touch and many more substitutes, which were found prohibitive in terms of cost. Moreover, synthetic leather is non-breathable, and given the nature of chemicals involved in their manufacturing, they are hazardous to the environment.
Tanning leather products is not eco-friendly, since the chemicals used for tanning emit toxic gases and effluents, which makes it hazardous for humans and environment as well. Employing alternative material that is leather-like is one of the solutions to the problems described above.
Therefore, in light of foregoing discussion, there remains a need for a leather-like material or faux leather made from natural substrates such that its appeal and durability is similar to real leather.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, a leather-like grown composite material obtained from growing fungal species on flower substrates or flower based nutritional media is provided.
In an aspect, a leather-like grown composite material including glucans, glycoproteins, and chitin is provided. The glucans are present in the range of 35-45%. The glycoprotein is present in the range of 15%-25%. The chitin is present in the range of 32%-42%. The trace materials are present in the range of 3-6%. The trace materials are any of the potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, silica or combination thereof. The potassium chloride is present in range of 0.3 %- 0.6% w/w. The sodium chloride is present in range of 0.3%-0.6% 0 w/w. The calcium chloride is present in range of 0.3% - 0.6% w/w. The calcium oxide is present in range of 0.3% to 0.6% w/w. The silica is present in range of 0.3% -0.6% w/w. The grown leather-like material is obtained in form of sheets. The material is plasticized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The drawing/s mentioned herein discloses exemplary embodiments of the claimed invention. Detailed description and preparation of well-known compounds/substances/elements are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 illustrates a table depicting thermal conductivity of leather in comparison to a leather-like material, according to an embodiment herein;
Figure 2 illustrates a table depicting tearing strength of the leather-like material, according to an embodiment herein;
Figure 3 illustrates a table depicting tensile strength of the leather-like material, according to an embodiment herein; and
Figure 4 illustrates a scanning electron microscope image of the leather-like material, according to an embodiment herein.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible to designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
This section is intended to provide explanation and description of various possible embodiments. The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The source and geographical origin of the biological resources used herein is India.
As mentioned, there remains need of faux leather or leather-like materials to replace the leather obtained from animal hides for industries such as upholstery, footwear, apparel and bags, the embodiment herein provides a leather-like material that is obtained from growing fungal species on flower substrates.
The terms “faux leather” “leather-like; and other such terms refer to a leather-like material as described herein, and are used interchangeably in the present disclosure.
The leather-like material of the embodiment herein is composed of glucans, glycoproteins, and chitin. In an embodiment, the glucans are present in range of 35-45%, glycoproteins are present in in range of 15-25% and chitin in range of 32 – 42%. The glucans, which are polysaccharides, are in the material as a result of fungal action on D-glucose in a flower substrate media in which fungi are grown. The glucans as a group include several polysaccharides and different fungal species may produce different glucans. The glucans are the inner skeletal layer of the fungal walls and may include both alpha and beta glucans.
The inner skeletal layer of the fungal wall included Chitin, another major component of the leather-like material disclosed herein. The glycoproteins in the material are there since the fungal outer wall is composed of an outer layer of glycoproteins.
The leather-like material is further composed of trace materials that may provide important characteristics to the material. The trace materials include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium oxide and silica. In an embodiment, the trace elements are in the range of 3% - 6%. In an embodiment, the trace elements include potassium chloride in range of 0.3-0.8% w/w, sodium chloride in 0.3 - 0.8% w/w, calcium chloride in 0.3-0.8% w/w, calcium oxide in 0.3% w/w, silica in 0.3% w/w.
In a preferred embodiment, the leather-like grown material includes 40% glucans, 20% glycoprotein, 37% chitin, 0.5% sodium chloride (NaCl), 0.6% potassium chloride (KCl), 0.5% calcium chloride (CaCl2), and 0.3% calcium oxide (CaO), 0.3% silica (Si).
In a preferred embodiment, the leather-like grown material according to an embodiment herein is in the form of sheets. The leather-like material disclosed herein exhibits comparable physical and chemical properties as leather. Figure 1 illustrates one such instance depicting comparison of thermal conductivity between leather and different leather-like material compositions, according to an embodiment herein. In fact, Figure 1 illustrates that the leather-like material disclosed herein has on average lower thermal conductivity than leather, making it a better material than leather for a range of uses such as, including but not limited to apparel, bags, covers etc.
Figure 2 illustrates a table depicting tearing strength of different samples of the leather-like material of an embodiment herein. The direction 1 and 2 refer to the longitudinal and transverse direction of the leather-like material. In an animal leather, the tearing strength in the two directions is different as is also shown in Figure 2 for the leather-like material of an embodiment herein. In animal leather, higher fat content leads to higher tear strength; however, the tearing strength is also influenced by tanning methods and age of the leather among other parameters. However, leather-like material as presently disclosed exhibit similar differences in tearing strength in the two directions as leather.
Figure 3 illustrates a table depicting tensile strength of the leather-like material, according to an embodiment herein. The tensile strength of the leather-like material exhibits similar patterns as leather. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the leather-like material is further provided in Figure 4.
Further, use of a leather-like composite material having chitin, glycan and glycoprotein for manufacturing an article is provided. The article includes apparels, bags, covers [such as seat covers], garments, sports goods etc. A method of manufacturing a bag or an apparel or an article from a leather-like composite material having chitin, glycan and glycoprotein is provided. The method includes repurposing obtained leather-like sheets, as described herein, into articles as desired.
Preferably, the material as disclosed herein is plasticized to enhance the physical properties before further applications and uses described above. Accordingly, a plasticized leather-like material having chitin, glycoprotein and glucan is provided. Further, accordingly, use of the plasticized leather-like material, as described herein, is provided in manufacture of articles. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing an article from the plasticized leather-like material is provided. The article includes apparel, garments, bags, sports good etc.
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present embodiment may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiment are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:
1. A leather-like grown sheet material comprising:
glucans; glycoproteins; and chitin.
2. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glucans are present in the range of 35-45%.
3. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glycoprotein is present in the range of 15%-25%.
4. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chitin is present in the range of 32%-42%.
5. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace materials is present in the range of 3-6%.
6. The material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the trace materials are any of the potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, silica or combination thereof.
7. The material as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
potassium chloride is present in range of 0.3 %- 0.6% w/w;
sodium chloride is present in range of 0.3%-0.6% \ w/w;
calcium chloride is present in range of 0.3% - 0.6% w/w;
calcium oxide is present in range of 0.3% to 0.6% w/w; and
silica is present in range of 0.3% -0.6% w/w.
8. The material as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the material is in form of sheets.
9. The material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is plasticized.