| Cork is a wondrous material that provides mankind | | | | Black agglomerate has many uses as well, such as |
| with numerous benefits. Cork is made from the bark | | | | for vibration, thermal, and acoustic insulators. It is also |
| of the evergreen species of oak genus called the | | | | prized for its appearance and is often used for |
| Quercus. The wood is native to southwest Europe | | | | ornamental and artistic purposes. The grinding of cork |
| and northwest Africa. It has also been introduced into | | | | produces white agglomerate, which is useful for |
| warmer areas of the United States, but by far the | | | | industrial purposes. White agglomerate is also used in |
| number one producer of cork oak is Portugal, which | | | | the construction of sporting goods, such as golf |
| accounts for half of the world's cork. | | | | clubs, rackets, helmets, and baseballs. Also, cork |
| The cork oak tree has a very thick bark (known as | | | | grains can be combined with rubber to form |
| "cork"), which can be harvested for the first time | | | | rubbercork, which is used for electrical and automobile |
| from the tree after about twenty five years. The | | | | purposes. |
| cork pulled from the tree is light, flexible, and | | | | As mentioned above, Portugal produces half of the |
| compressible. It is also resistant to liquids and gases. | | | | total cork in the world. The country's pleasant |
| Its resistance to materials passing through its cells is | | | | Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing cork oak |
| a result of its chemical composition, which contains a | | | | trees. About 720 thousand hectares in Portugal are |
| large amount of suberin. Suberin contains acids which | | | | devoted to the growing of cork oak trees. One |
| make it elastic and compressible. After its initial | | | | hectare equals 10 thousand square meters, so this |
| harvesting, a cork oak tree can be harvested about | | | | represents a very large amount of land. A cork oak |
| once a decade. | | | | tree can live up to 200 years and will typically be |
| Cork's number one use is for wine stoppers. The | | | | harvested many times in its lifetime. |
| demand for cork continues to rise as wine makers | | | | Cork is a natural product that is harvested naturally, |
| continue to use natural cork more than alternatives. | | | | so no damage is done to the environment. In |
| Natural cork has the advantage of not soaking up | | | | addition, the material can be re-used and is |
| the flavor of wines, as non-natural corks can do. | | | | biodegradable. There is no synthetic version of cork |
| Cork has many other uses beyond its traditional role | | | | (the production of which would likely be much more |
| in capping wine bottles. Due to its fire resistance, | | | | damaging to the environment than natural cork |
| cork has been used in rocket technology, as well as | | | | harvesting), so it is a valuable material that does no |
| to make bricks for homes. Technological innovation | | | | damage in its production or consumption. |
| has also resulted in the material becoming popular for | | | | So now you know more about cork than you |
| use in footwear, furniture, and floor tiles. | | | | probably ever though you would. It's a product with |
| The waste produced from cork that is heated to | | | | many uses that can be re-generated naturally over |
| extreme temperatures is called black agglomerate. | | | | and over. It's truly a wonder wood. |