Mycelium based bio-composite panel production and determination of some performance characteristics

Petrol-based products such as styrofoam and plastic are used as protective panels for the easy and safe transportation of furniture, white goods, electronic parts and sensitive fragile materials. The aim of this study is to combine lignocellulosic wastes and fungal mycelium, to produce natural, innovative materials as an alternative to petroleum-based (polystyrene) protective panels used in the packaging industry and to examine their usage performance. Within the scope of the study, reishi mushroom (G. lucidum) mycelium was used for the production of biocomposite material. Oak (Quercus sp.), pine (Pinus p.) and poplar (Populus sp.) sawdust were used as lignocellulosic waste. Some physical, mechanical and technological properties of the obtained bio-composite panels such as density, humidity, pressure resistance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, swelling resistance to thickness were investigated. The pressure resistance values obtained according to the tests show that the polystyrene foams have similar properties and that the produced bio-composite materials have the character of "rigid foam material". Such materials can be developed and used in the sector.