The cork is stripped off during
June, July and August using a long-handled hatchet to cut sections out of the
bark. These sections are then pried away from the tree. Workers must be careful
not to damage the inner layer of the bark otherwise the bark won't grow back.
Cork's elasticity combined with its near-impermeability
makes it suitable as a material for bottle stoppers,
especially for wine bottles.
Cork stoppers represent about 60% of all cork based production.
Cork is also an
essential element in the production of badminton shuttlecocks.
Cork's bubble-form
structure and natural fire retardant make it suitable for acoustic and thermal insulation in house walls, floors, ceilings and
facades. The by-product of more lucrative stopper production, corkboard is
gaining popularity as a non-allergenic, easy-to-handle and safe alternative to
petrochemical-based insulation products which are flammable and emit highly
toxic fumes when burned.
Sheets of cork, also often the
by-product of stopper production, are used to make bulletin
boards as well as floor and
wall tiles.
Cork's low density makes it a suitable material for fishing floats and buoys, as well as handles for fishing rods (as an alternative to neoprene).
Granules of cork can
also be mixed into concrete.
The composites made by mixing cork granules and cement have lower thermal
conductivity, lower density and good energy absorption. Some of the property
ranges of the composites are density (400–1500 kg/m³), compressive
strength (1–26 MPa) and flexural strength (0.5–4.0 MPa).
Washing the cork --
The cork slabs that are cut away from the tree are boiled and the rough outer
layer of the bark is stripped away. Boiling the cork also softens it, making it
easier to work with.
Punching Bottle Stoppers
From the
slabs of cork, holes are punched out to make bottle stoppers. This leaves the
slabs full of holes. These bottle stoppers are then sorted and shipped to
various destinations. The stoppers can at this time be printed or branded with
names or logos.
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