Hybridizations and reinforcements in mycelium composites: A review

Abstract

Mycelium composites have gained attention in recent years for its environmental credentials and low-cost manufacturing. This emerging material has shown comparable strength to polystyrene foams and particle boards, resulting in its consideration as a sustainable alternative for many applications. Researchers have worked to improve many of mycelium composites properties; however, its strength has seen particular focus. The subject of this review is the methods of hybridization and reinforcement explored to strengthen mycelium composite boards and foams. The result of these methods is highly varied, with most having little effect on improving mycelium composites beyond control samples. Methods which did improve strength were often impractical and/or weaker than samples in which no hybridization or reinforcement was used. While mycelium composites remain an interesting solution for more sustainable materials, methods of hybridization and reinforcement do not appear to be contributing to viable improvements which could be applied to new applications.