CORK? What is it?

Versatile and unique

Cork is the bark of the cork oak. It is a 100% natural plant tissue consisting of a hive of microscopic cells containing a gas identical to air and coated primarily with suberin and lignin. It has a range of applications associated with its attributes that no technology has yet managed to emulate, match or exceed.

100% natural

It is a 100% natural raw material, that is 100% reusable and 100% recyclable, extracted from cork oaks without harming the normal development of the species and without damaging the tree. The extracted cork is 100% harnessed. Once processed, into stoppers for example, cork can also re-enter the production process. The cork stoppers can be recycled by shredding. The granules resulting from this process can be used in other products, such as shoes, cladding panels, fishing buoys.

Intrinsic Properties

Lightweight

Over 50% of its volume is air, which makes it very light. It weighs just 0.16 grams per cubic centimetre, and it can float.

Impermeable to liquids and gases

It is totally impermeable to liquids and practically impermeable to gases, thanks to the suberin and cerin present in the composition of cork cells. Its resistance to moisture allows it to grow old without deteriorating.

Elastic and compressible

It can be compressed to around half its thickness without losing any flexibility, and it decompresses, recovering its initial shape and volume, as soon as it ceases to be compressed. This flexibility is given by its airtight cells containing a gas mixture similar to air. It is the only solid that when compressed on one side does not increase in volume on the other axis. It is able to adapt to variations in temperature and pressure without suffering variations, due to its elasticity.

Antistatic and anti-allergic

It does not absorb dust and prevents the appearance of mites and, therefore, contributes to protection against allergies.

Wear resistance

Cork is resistant to wear, thanks to its honeycomb structure, which makes it less affected by impact or friction than other hard surfaces.