Optimization of Dielectric Constant and Electrical Resistance of Mycelium/Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Three Different Natural Fibers and Nano hBN

This study investigates the optimization of dielectric constant and the electric resistance of mycelium-based epoxy composites are fabricated using mycelium powder, natural fibers (PALF, sugarcane and palm fibers), epoxy resin and nano hBN with the objective of developing more sustainable electric insulation materials. This paper applies the CCD of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to investigate the impact of three main process variables, namely Nano hBN filler content, fiber wt% and types of fibers on the electric insulation properties of the composites. The experimental results are analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The composite sample 5 shows a minimum dielectric constant of 1.045 and a maximum electrical resistance of 265.51 GΩ. This shows the significant impact of the characteristics of the fillers and fibers on the electric insulation performance of the composites. The Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) experiment with the best grade is (GRG = 0.997), for experiment number 5, which is the lowest Nano hBN filler content using palm fibers. The best electrical insulation is obtained with 0.5 wt.% nano hBN and 1 wt.% fiber. These results show the feasibility of mycelium-based hybrid composites as eco-friendly insulating materials for electrical and electronic uses.