Properties of cork

The physical and chemical properties of cork are very unique. It is a pure natural polymer material composed of cork parenchyma cells. Under the microscope, every cubic centimeter of cork contains 40 million cells, and the cells are filled with air.

Observing the cross-section of cork cells through an electron microscope, it was found that cork parenchyma cells were hexagonal prisms arranged alternately. The cell wall has a cellulose skeleton covered with cork and cork wax.

There are plasmodesmata passing through between the cell walls, which are the passage of protoplasm. After the cell dies, the plasmodesmata is blocked by resin, and the air in the cell is sealed inside, forming a closed air sac. When subjected to external pressure, the cell shrinks and becomes smaller, and the air pressure inside the cell increases. High; when the external pressure is lost, the air pressure inside the cell will restore the cell to its original state, which is also the principle of soft wood.

Cork is known as “soft gold” in the international market. Its main physical properties are light weight, low density, compressibility, elasticity, airtight, impermeable, buoyancy, strong elasticity, flexibility, compression resistance, and impermeability. Strong, moisture-proof and anti-corrosion, extremely poor conductivity, sound insulation, strong insulation, friction resistance, non-flammable, can delay the spread of fire, will not cause allergic reactions and a series of excellent physical properties.

The chemical properties of cork are very stable, will not breed various insects, and have no chemical reaction with weak acids, weak bases and other polar substances.