| The most common use for cork remains as a means | | | | requiring only vacuuming or damp mopping. However, |
| of capping wine bottles. There are now modern | | | | one caveat is that since cork is a substance that |
| alternatives for this service, such as plastic stoppers, | | | | expands and contracts, it is important that the |
| but traditional cork stoppers remain the most popular | | | | humidity level in the building containing the cork |
| choice for wine purposes. In fact, it has been | | | | flooring be kept within a controlled range. |
| reported that cork accounts for only 15% of cork | | | | Cork is hypoallergenic, which makes it useful for |
| usage by weight, but 66% by revenue. However, | | | | anything that comes in contact with human skin. For |
| cork is not a one trick pony. It can be used for some | | | | instance, a company in Canada makes a computer |
| very interesting things outside of a wine bottle. | | | | mouse pad out of cork. Given that a computer |
| Cork is a very unusual material in that its cells are | | | | operator's hand spends a lot of time on the mouse |
| aligned in a honeycomb type of structure and filled | | | | pad, this is an excellent option for someone with |
| with air, making it very compressible and elastic. | | | | sensitive skin. |
| When pressed, cork will return to its original shape. | | | | In 2002, American John Pollack and his partner Garth |
| This property makes it useful for many purposes in | | | | Goldstein made international news by successfully |
| industry and the arts. | | | | navigating a boat down the Douro River in Portugal |
| One of the more common industry uses for cork is in | | | | that was made entirely of cork stoppers. The |
| the creation of low temperature insulation, which is | | | | project demonstrated yet another interesting and |
| used to insulate things like refrigeration pipes and | | | | unusual use for cork, even without manufacturing it |
| water coolers. To make the insulation material, the | | | | into any kind of particular end product. |
| cork is ground up, molded, and baked into the desired | | | | There has been concern in recent years about |
| shape. | | | | wineries switching away from cork. The reason for |
| Cork is used in rockets. It has a high degree of fire | | | | the shift is that a cork stopper can on occasion ruin |
| resistance, also making it a good insulation material | | | | the taste of wine. Rather than being a good |
| for high temperature environments. NASA uses cork | | | | environmental move, it is argued that the shift away |
| in rockets to prevent rocket fuel from getting too | | | | from cork will be damaging to the environment. The |
| hot during ignition. | | | | reason is that without wineries using cork, the |
| Cork is a wonderful material for flooring that is | | | | demand for cork would fall to the point that cork |
| available in many colors and patterns. Cork is durable | | | | forests would stop being maintained or replaced |
| and can be installed on almost any floor. It provides | | | | altogether with more profitable products. Therefore, |
| excellent insulation for both thermal and acoustic | | | | coming up with new and innovative uses for cork |
| purposes. Cork flooring is also easy to keep clean, | | | | may be critical to its future. |