Language
Country/Area
No result found
How did ancient people discover this amazing material: What is the secret of cork?
Cork, this magical material with impermeability and buoyancy, has been utilized by humans more than 5,000 years ago. Its raw material is derived from the outer layer of bark tissue, mainly from oak trees (Quercus suber) produced in southern and western Europe and northern Africa. Cork's composition is primarily composed of a hydrophobic substance called linoleic acid, which makes cork excellent in a variety of environments, especially when it comes to making wine bottle stoppers. Today, this material is of great economic importance, especially in the wine market, where demand is growing over time.
Due to its impermeable, buoyant, elastic and fire-resistant properties, cork is widely used in a variety of products, the most common of which is wine bottle stoppers.
History
Since ancient times, cork has been widely used in various types of products, especially in China, Egypt, Babylon and Persia. As early as around 3000 BC, wood has been used to seal containers and other daily products. supplies. In the ancient Greek period, cork was made into shoes and used to make soles. It was favored for its lightness and durability.
Structure
The cellular structure of cork gives it unique physical properties. The shape of the cells is typically pentagonal or hexagonal, and the cell walls are composed of rich layers of lignin and wax, features that provide cork with its elasticity and durability. Additionally, the gas mixture in cork makes it act like a real "cushion" and recovers well after being compressed.
Source
The world has approximately 2.2 million hectares of oak forests, of which Portugal and Spain account for 34% and 27% respectively. The annual production is about 300,000 tons, with Portugal producing the most. The sustainability of cork is a major feature as the trees are not cut down to collect the cork, the bark is simply stripped off and they continue to grow. With the increase in environmental awareness, more and more studies have confirmed the advantages of cork as an environmentally friendly material.
In the mid-20th century, discussions about the green economy gained increasing importance, and cork gained a reputation for its unique sustainability and ease of recycling.
Harvesting process
Softwood harvesting is generally carried out from early May to late August every year. Workers use professional tools to carefully peel off the bark. When trees are harvested for the first time, a low-quality material called "virgin softwood" is often produced. Professional workers need to be highly skilled, both to exert force without damaging the trees and to ensure that the quality of the harvested cork is not compromised.
Features and uses
Cork's elasticity and near-impermeable properties make it an ideal material for wine bottle stoppers. In fact, wine stoppers account for around 60% of all cork-based products.
Due to its unique bubble structure and natural fire resistance, cork is also widely used in covert soundproofing and thermal insulation materials.
Application in wine filling
Cork also has its place in wine closures. Natural cork is used in approximately 80% of the more than 20 billion bottles of wine produced each year. However, due to the rise of synthetic materials and price factors, many wineries once chose other types of closure materials, but in recent years, with the improvement of cork quality, many high-end wineries have returned to using natural cork.
Other uses
In addition to being used as wine bottle stoppers, cork is used in all walks of life and can be found in many fields such as musical instruments, fashion accessories, construction and environmentally friendly materials. The most innovative thing is that in 2007, the Portuguese postal agency issued the world's first stamp made of cork, which demonstrated the diversity and environmental protection characteristics of cork.
Have you ever wondered why such an ancient and environmentally friendly material can continue to maintain its market competitiveness, and how did the ancients discover the secret of this magical material?
