2006-07-18 01:34:57 · 6 answers · asked by marcusmontooth 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It can be made from natural fibres but i can also be man made from recycled products, it is glued together with a polyurethane glue and pressed for around 4-6 hrs depending on the humidity in the air.
2006-07-18 01:41:08 · answer #1 · answered by Angel666 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sheet of cork is not "made"...
Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree (Quevcus Suber), and is sheared off the tree from the time the tree has matured to at least 70 cms. in perimeter and 1'30 m. in height. This extraction process is repeated every 9 to 12 years, which is the time the tree will take to regenerate itself.
The quality of the cork to make bottle corks is attained at the 3rd. extraction, by which time the tree has reached aprox. 40 years of age.
Seeing that this type of tree lives between 170 and 200 years... It can be sheared aproximately 15 times in its lifetime.
Cork is not only used for bottles. It is good for weather and sound isolation, and as such can be used as a wall covering. It can also be used for floor tiles once properly treated and varnished. (For these purposes cork powder or pieces can be used with glue to make agglomerated sheets).
And in fashion you can find cork in some garments and articles such as wallets, handbags, etc.
It is fire-repellent (ignifugeous), lightweight, very flexible and practically impossible to rot.
It is used in naval construction, building construction, airconditioning, aeronautics, and even in chemistry and pharmaceuticals.
The best quality (and the most quantity) cork is produced in Spain, followed by Portugal, France and some other mediterranean countries such as Morrocco and Tunisia.
There now exist synthetic imitations, but real cork is still used in most of its forms as it has no true rival.(in bottling good wines for example).
It is environmental friendly; cork oaks protect the eco-system in the areas where located.
2006-07-18 09:16:13 · answer #2 · answered by abuela Nany 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Natural cork comes from the bark of a certain type of tree. Sheets of cork, depending on the size, can be made from steaming and flatening out of the bark and then putting the segments together, or you can purchase smaller pieces and put them together yourself.
2006-07-18 08:53:16 · answer #3 · answered by Darryl E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cork is the bark of the cork oak - so it grows in thick layers. but the sheets that are used for wall/floor tiling are crumbs and bits of cork glued together, actually.
to see the intact structure of cork get a closer look at a bottle cork - a bottle cork is from one piece.
btw to angel 666: WHAT CORK FIBERS??
2006-07-18 08:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by iva 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't come like that naturally. Compressed.
2006-07-18 08:42:39 · answer #5 · answered by spider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont know
2006-07-18 08:38:07 · answer #6 · answered by Navdeep B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋