MBL Sustainability and Characterization Testing Data
Description
The dataset contains raw and processed mechanical testing data for the six leather materials evaluated in the study: bovine leather, ISA Core leather, pineapple leather, pure mycelium-based leather, mycelium-textile composite leather, and mycelium-polymer resin embedded leather. The tensile testing data include the raw Instron measurements for each trial, including time, displacement, force, stress, and strain, as well as calculated maximum displacement, Young's modulus, and yield stress. The tear testing data include raw time, displacement, and force measurements for each trial, along with calculated maximum tear force and tear energy. Raw Instron data are organized by material and individual trial, allowing the reported mechanical properties and results to be traced to the original experimental measurements.
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Steps to reproduce
The experimental data were generated through standardized tensile and tear testing of six leather materials: bovine leather, ISA Core leather, pineapple leather, pure mycelium-based leather (MBL), mycelium-textile composite leather, and mycelium-polymer resin embedded leather. All mechanical testing was conducted using an Instron Tension/Compression Testing System 5944 with an appropriately rated load cell. The instrument's daily self-test procedure was completed before experimentation, and testing was conducted after the system indicated that it was ready. ASTM and ISO standards were followed for specimen preparation and mechanical testing. For tensile testing, dogbone specimens were prepared using an ASTM D412-C die and manual punch press. Five specimens were prepared in each of two perpendicular material directions when sufficient material was available; limitations of the polymer MBL resulted in fewer specimens. Specimens had a total length of 115 mm, a gauge length of 33 mm, a nominal width of 6 mm in the gauge section, and a width of 25 mm at the ends. Specimen thickness was measured before testing using a calibrated digital caliper with ±0.01 mm precision. Tensile testing was conducted according to ISO 3376 at a crosshead speed of 100 mm/min until fracture. Force and displacement data were recorded by the Instron's Bluehill software, including force and displacement at break, maximum and minimum force, and corresponding displacement values. These data were exported for subsequent analysis of tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at break, and related mechanical properties. For tear testing, rectangular specimens measuring 70 mm × 40 mm were prepared with a 50-mm central pre-cut according to ISO 3377. Specimen thickness was measured with the digital caliper prior to testing. Specimens were mounted with the pre-cut centered between the grips and tested on the Instron 5944 at a crosshead speed of 100 mm/min until complete tearing. Force and displacement data, including maximum force, force at break, and corresponding displacement values, were recorded by Bluehill and exported for analysis of tear resistance. For both tests, specimens were visually inspected before testing, mounted with appropriate axial alignment, and displacement was zeroed before each trial. Force-displacement curves and tabulated measurements generated by the Instron system were compiled in Microsoft Excel for data processing and comparison among materials and material directions.
Institutions
- Virginia TechVirginia, Blacksburg