Corkforming

Corkforming is a manufacturing process used to shape cork material into specific forms. It typically involves the use of heat and pressure to mold granulated cork into a desired shape, often for industrial applications. The raw material is usually cork granules derived from the bark of the cork oak tree. These granules are then mixed with a binder, which can be a natural resin or a synthetic adhesive, to hold them together.

The mixture is placed into a heated mold. The mold is then subjected to pressure, causing the cork granules and binder to flow and conform to the mold's cavity. The heat helps to activate the binder and sometimes to plasticize the cork, making it more pliable for molding. Once the shaping is complete, the molded part is cooled and removed from the mold. The binder cures or solidifies during this process, resulting in a rigid, shaped cork product.

Corkforming allows for the creation of intricate shapes and precise dimensions that would be difficult to achieve with solid cork. This process is often used to produce components like gaskets, seals, insulation materials, and even decorative elements. The properties of cork, such as its compressibility, resilience, thermal and acoustic insulation, and resistance to chemicals, are retained in the formed products, making them suitable for a wide range of specialized uses. The specific binder and processing parameters can be adjusted to achieve different levels of flexibility, density, and performance in the final corkformed item.