Cork biomass biocomposites

Abstract

Nature has produced a huge number of natural fibers with high potential to reinforce the properties of many composites [1][2][3]. When compared with most synthetic fibers, natural fibers are low cost, are easier to handle, have appropriate specific mechanical properties, have low density, and require only around 20%-40% of the production energy. Using natural materials increases energy efficiency while promoting the concept of sustainability [1,4,5]. These are some reasons that have led to reduce the use of petroleum-based nonbiodegradable composites and focus the attention on the development of bio-based composite materials in which at least one component is from renewable resources [6]. Lignocellulosic polymer composites are generally engineering materials in which polymer (obtained from natural/petroleum resources) is used as matrix and the lignocellulosic component (most commonly natural fibers) is from renewable resources and acts as reinforcement to provide the desired characteristics in the resulting composite material. Depending on its source, the lignocellulosic fraction can be used in the form of fibers or particles. In terms of reinforcement, typically the word leads to the increase of the mechanical performance; however, in the field and more particularly in this chapter, it will be also considered when the increase of a specific property of the resulting composite material is achieved. Thus, the reduction of the density (i.e., lightweight material) or the improvement of the thermal properties of the composite is also considered reinforcement.The cork industry is mostly represented in the southeast European zone, where 60% of the world's Quercus suber L. plantation area is established. Research and development on cork and cork by-products is of high concern for knowledge transfer, which is essential in the cork industry's strategy and valorization, promoting the development of new materials. Cork-polymer composite (CPC) is one of the most promising fields in cork technology to produce new materials based on sustainable development. Cork combined with polymer matrices, such as thermoplastics, thermosetting, and bio-based polymeric matrices, can result in sustainable products for different sectors of application with economic and environmental benefits. Thus, different meltbased technologies such as extrusion, pultrusion (i.e., palltruder), injection molding, compression molding, and its combination are employed to obtain the final composite

Transforming wastes into functional materials: natural cork-based physical structural components and polymers

“…Tailoring the properties of cork composites for specific applications involves adjusting parameters such as the composite process, cork pellet amount and size, chemical or surface treatments, and the type and quantity of coupling agents. 98 In additive manufacturing, cork powder or pellets often serve as additives to 3D printed polymer matrices in FFF, yielding composite materials like PLA-cork composites, [99][100][101] PPcork composites, 102,103 PU-cork composites 104 (Fig. 10a), SEBScork composites, 105 among others.…”

“…Tailoring the properties of cork composites for specific applications involves adjusting parameters such as the composite process, cork pellet amount and size, chemical or surface treatments, and the type and quantity of coupling agents. 98…”

The Influence of Cork and Manufacturing Parameters on the Properties of Cork–Rubber Composites for Vibration Isolation Applications

“…In fact, cork can be extracted from the same tree in a nine-year interval [4][5][6]. Cork behaves similarly to a cellular material presenting low density, high compressibility and recovery characteristics, near zero Poisson's coefficient, resilience, high energy absorption capacity, good thermal and acoustic behavior [7][8][9][10]. The most recognized application of cork is in the manufacture of stoppers for the wine industry.…”