It was the most used material in the construction of cold chambers, produced from the bark of cork oak, tree originating in the Mediterranean region.
It consists of small cells hermetically sealed and surrounded by a kind of soft, flexible and elastic fabric, which does not absorb moisture and is practically impermeable.
One of its constituents, suberin, renders it imputrescible and resistant to oils and
essences.
The manufacture of corks gives rise to a large quantity of leftovers, which, added to the virgin cork, allow the manufacture of agglomerates and granulates for insulation.
The agglomerated cork boards are obtained by means of compression in suitable molds, and may or may not use bonding substances (gypsum, cement, magnesium oxychloride, tar, sodium silicate in aqueous solution, etc.)
