Cork

Cork Sheets

At Advanced Seals & Gaskets, we supply cork in most grades including natural or bonded with neoprene, Nitrile, and synthetic rubber, all of which can be converted into a range of products including gaskets, pads, and sheets with the option of a plain or self-adhesive finish.  Cork sheets can be used in a wide array of applications such as thermal insulation, sound dampening, and anti-vibration with varieties such as neoprene or nitrile bonded available for oil or fuel exposure.

Cork sheets are available in 1m x 1m or 2m x 1m sized sheets and in a range of standard manufactured thicknesses, however using our expertise, specialised splitting machinery, and in-house laminating service, we are able to offer other thicknesses or combinations of laminated material layers on request.  Cork sheets can be purchased for applications where a larger surface needs to be covered, but often it is so that customers and end-users can cut their own finished products as and when required.

What are Cork Sheets?

Natural Cork consists of cork grains compressed together with no other added chemicals other than a liquid binder known as ‘agglomeration’ to adhere the particles together, these sheets are commonly found used as notice boards, coasters, and mousepads.  Bonded cork sheets can also be manufactured using cork grains mixed with rubber granules (namely neoprene, nitrile, or synthetic rubber) which gives it greater flexibility and added properties for use in different applications and environments. Cork sheets are flexible, lightweight, waterproof, and practice primarily used for floor and wall insulation, but can also be cut down and converted into smaller strips and gaskets found in a vast range of other applications including outdoor furniture and lighting.

Sheets

As ASG are one of the leading material manufacturers in the UK we produce many sheets in a variety of materials such as neoprene, EPDM, sponge, rubber, silicone, Plastazote, polyethylene and many other materials.  Each material provides its own unique qualities and physical characteristics.  If you are unsure which material is best for your application please get in touch with our team.

Why use Cork Sheets?

Cork sheets are extremely versatile and available in many grades each with different properties, for this reason, cork can be found used in a multitude of industries and applications, from a basic pin/notice board to gaskets in fuel tanks.

Cork sheets have excellent insulation properties and anti-vibration properties, it is water-resistant, dust-free, does not support mould growth and has excellent recovery following compression.  Corks sheets and products produced from the sheets can also be found within the automotive, aerospace, and engineering industry for vibration and sound absorption and to seal against oil and chemical leaks.

Benefits of Cork Sheets

  • Sound & Thermal insulation
  • Thermal Properties
  • Bonded with Other Materials Based on Application
  • Water & mould resistant
  • Anti-Vibration
  • Natural Material

The Advantages of Using Cork Sheets

As there are many grades of bonded cork they come with countless advantages.  Not only is cork aesthetically more appealing and provides lighter less intrusive characteristics than most other synthetic materials, its is non-toxic and not harmful to health so easy to work with without the need for protective clothing.

Cork is water-resistant, resistant to mould and dampness, extremely fireproof, and has excellent sound, vibration and thermal properties. Cork sheets can be supplied in specifically cut sizes, split down or laminated together to produce non-standard thickness, laminated to other materials for added properties, and used in prototyping to cut and manipulate to create the correct functioning gasket, pad or strip.  For more information about the advantages of cork sheets please get in touch.

Different Grades

Advanced Seals & Gaskets Ltd can offer several grades of cork sheet for use within various industries each with its own unique characteristics, depending upon the material with which it is blended.

Natural Cork –  a combination of grains of cork and a liquid binder known as ‘agglomeration’ to adhere the particles together.  Natural Cork is relatively cheap compared to sponge and rubber and can be used as a simple noticeboard, coaster, air/dust/water seals, in thermal insulation, acoustic, and anti-vibration applications.

Resin-bonded cork –  a lightweight, flexible cork, produced using cork granules bound together using a synthetic resin.  This grade of cork is resilient to certain acids and is often used in water retaining applications.

Nitrile bonded cork – manufactured using a combination of cork and nitrile rubber granules, giving a speckled appearance.  Gaskets made from this material can be used where oil and fuel resistance is required, or where high-temperature resistance is required, industries include automotive and general engineering.

Neoprene bonded cork – Neoprene bonded cork is a combination of cork and neoprene rubber granules, bound together.  This grade has the same speckled appearance as the Nitrile Bonded cork, but with different properties, with the addition of the Neoprene rubber, the cork is suited to sealing at higher temperatures and resistant to weathering and oil.  Neoprene Bonded cork is suited to oil, engineering, electrical, anti-vibration, and soundproofing applications.