Mechanical characterization of the samples was conducted using unconfined compression testing on an Instron 5940 Series Universal Testing System (Instron, USA) equipped with a compression clamp with a maximum load capacity of 10 kN. The samples were positioned between two parallel compression clamps, and the tests were carried out at room temperature. Prior to testing, the dimensions of the samples, including diameter and height, were recorded. The samples were subjected to unconfined static compression at a compression rate of 1 mm/min, and the testing was manually stopped upon reaching a compressive strain of 50-60%. The compressive Young's modulus was determined by calculating the slope of the regenerated data obtained from the best linear regression fit on the stress-strain curve within the range of 0 to 20% compressive strain.