Use of Hemp Waste for the Development of Mycelium-grown Matrix Biocomposites: A Concise Bibliographic Review

Abstract

Mycelium from fungi can serve as the matrix or as a self-grown binder in a biocomposite. The reinforcing component may consist of various combinations of agro-based waste in short fiber or powder form. The complexity of their development is linked not only to the selection of the substrate, but also to the growth conditions of the mycelial material and its consolidation in a final form by the temperature increase that takes place. These materials have initially been proposed as a replacement for polystyrene foams, and the characterization is concentrated on compression performance and acoustic and thermal insulation properties. The present review concentrates on substrates that originated from the large productive system based on hemp (shives or hurds, waste fibers, and mats). Attention is paid to the performance obtained and to the amount of waste that is possibly employed to serve as the substrate.

Keywords

• bio-blocks
• agricultural substrates
• polystyrene foam replacement
• natural fibers
• straw
• sawdust