Why choose cork?
The particularity of cork makes it a favorite product for many people：
Excellent Acoustic Insulation – Cork has low conductivity to noise and vibration. This is because the gaseous components contained in cork are enclosed in small impermeable compartments, isolated from each other by a moisture-resistant substance.
Excellent Thermal Insulation – The air inside the cells makes it an excellent insulator, leading to very low thermal conductivity, over a wide range Of temperatures.
Excellent Resistance to Fire and High Temperatures – Cork is also a natural fire retardant, it burns without a flame and does not emit toxic gases during combustion.
Excellent Elasticity and Compressibility – It is the only solid which, when compressed on one side, does not increase in volume on another; and as a result of its elasticity it is able to adapt, for example, to variations in temperature and pressure without suffering alterations.
Extremely Light and Buoyant – Over 50% of its volume is air, which makes it very light -it weighs just 0.16 grams per cubic centimetre and can float.
Hypoallergenic – Because cork does not absorb dust, it helps protect against allergies and does not pose a risk to asthma sufferers Impermeable to Liquids and Gases. Thanks to the suberin and ceroids contained in the cell walls, cork is practically impermeable to liquids and gases. Its resistance to moisture enables it to age without deteriorating.
High Friction Resistance and Good Resilience – Cork is extremely resistant to abrasion and has a high friction coefficient. Thanks to its honeycomb structure, its resistance to impact or friction is greater than that of other hard surfaces.
Comfortable and Warm Feeling – The natural texture of cork combines softness and flexibility to the touch with a naturally uneven surface. The variable degree irregularity is given by the type of cork used and the finish chosen
Organic and sustainable material – Cork is a material of natural origin, 100% renewable, reusable and sustainable. Choosing it as raw material contributes to a cleaner and more balanced environment.
Multiple applications – Cork is a very versatile raw material and an excellent option for creating objects for everyday use, thanks to its unique characteristics such as impermeability to liquids and gases, thermal and acoustic insulation, compressibility, elasticity, resilience, lightness and softness to the touch.
Versatility – Cork is easily transformed through technologies such as moulding, CNC machining or lamination. These industrial processes make it possible to create goods that stand out for their innovative shapes, materials and technologies.
Appealing and timeless appearance – The small differences in cork’s appearance and texture make it an authentic material with character, which pleases the consumer. Its neutral and natural colour allows it to fit easily into different decor styles.
Why cork uniqueness?
The uniqueness of cork derives from its structure of air-filled cells, each of which consists of a watertight, flexible compartment. En masse these cells constitute a remarkably effective insulating medium that is also impervious to liquids. Because of its internal matrix of air pockets, cork is also among the lighter natural substances in weight, being only one-fifth as heavy as water. Specialized plastics and other artificial substances have supplanted cork in a number of its former uses, but cork has retained its traditional importance as a stopper for bottles of wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Cork is composed of dead cells that accumulate on the outer surface of the cork oak tree. Because of its honeycomb-like structure, cork consists largely of empty space; its density (weight per unit volume) is one-fourth that of water. Unlike a honeycomb, however, cork consists of irregularly shaped and spaced cells having an average of 14 sides. With 625 millions of these empty cells per cubic inch (40 million per cubic centimeter).
cork is like many layers of microscopic Bubble Wrap, making it an effective cushioning material. Its low density makes cork useful in products like life preservers and buoys. The large amount of dead-air space makes cork an effective insulation material for both temperature and noise. Furthermore, it is fire retardant; flames will only char the surface, and no toxic fumes are generated.
Cutting the surface of cork turns many of the microscopic cells into tiny suction cups, creating an effective non-slip surface. In addition to being flexible, cork is highly resilient. After being crushed under a pressure of 14,000 lbs/in 2 (96,000 kPa), cork will regain 90% of its original size in 24 hours. Cork absorbs neither dust nor moisture, and it resists both rot and insects. Highly resistant to wear, it is used for polishing diamonds.