Journal of Material Science and Technology Research

Articles

Vol. 12 (2025)

Fungal Foams from Teak Leaves: Effect of Cold Shock and Species Variation on Growth and Mechanical Strength

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31875/2410-4701.2025.12.07
Submitted
December 7, 2025
Published
2025-12-29

Abstract

Fungal foams represent sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials, yet optimization of growth and mechanical properties remains challenging. This study evaluated the effects of cold shock treatments at 0 °C for different interval days (3, 5, 7 days) on Pleurotus species including P. djamor, P. florida, and P. sajor-caju cultivated on teak leaves. Mycelial growth rates, mechanical properties (hardness, springiness, resilience), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were systematically evaluated. Results demonstrated that 3-day cold shock treatment consistently maximized growth, with P. florida (W3) achieving 1.41 cm/day. Mechanical testing revealed superior performance in 3-day treated samples: P. florida (W3) recorded peak hardness at 7904 g.sec, while springiness and resilience value reached 0.681 and 0.399 respectively for P. sajor-caju (G3) surpassing controls samples. SEM confirmed denser, thicker and intertwined hyphal networks in cold-treated samples, correlating with mechanical properties. These findings establish 3-day cold shock as an effective, non-chemical strategy to enhance fungal foam quality from agricultural residues. 

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