Over the past few years, development of technology at the intersection of material sciences and biology has led to introduction of new generations of eco-friendly, engineered materials composed of biocompatible and biodegradable natural components. Mycelium-based biocomposites made of wood fibers embedded in a dense fungal matrix exhibit physical and mechanical properties comparable to their synthetic counterparts like Polystyrene foams which are widely used in packaging, thermal/acoustic insulation, and construction industries. In this study, two prismatic samples of a mycelium-based biocomposite were fabricated by controlled growth of a fungal mycelium species forming the binding matrix within wood fiber substrates made of chopped leaf sheaths of date palm with different sizes. Both samples were tested under quasi-static displacement-controlled three-point bending, and their mass-specific flexural properties were measured. Results showed that the sample with larger fibers exhibits less strength, where larger empty spaces in the fibrous network prevent the growing matrix from consolidation.

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