Preparation of a kind of novel sustainable mycelium/cotton stalk composites and effects of pressing temperature on the properties

A novel sustainable mycelium/cotton stalk composite was prepared in laboratory by growing cotton stalk with white rot fungus of Ganoderma lucidum in a block mold followed by hot-pressing process. The effects of pressing temperature (160, 180, and 200 °C) on physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that with increasing pressing temperature, most properties of the composites increased significantly owing to the improved interfacial bonding at high temperature. However, it showed slight negative effect to the thermal decomposition resistance, while with increasing hot-pressing temperature, the thermal decomposition resistance of the composites was improved. After cultivation of mycelium, the structure of the cotton stalk particles was destroyed and main components, such as hemicelluloses and lignin degraded. However, after hot-pressing, the structures of the composites became compact and new chemical bonds between mycelium and cotton stalk particles occurred. The optimal group of this study was achieved under 200 °C hot-pressing, where the flexural and internal bonding strength was comparable to non-load bearing fibreboard.