POWERcork

Rubber-cork materials in seals

Rubber-cork materials are composite materials made by combining rubber with cork particles. This unique combination results in a material that offers the durability and sealing properties of rubber while providing the compressibility, flexibility and vibration dampening of cork.

Our POWERcork material has been subjected to very harsh aging test conditions (over 1500 hours at 167°C, under pressure and in full contact with oil) simulating a lifetime of over 30 years.

Material

Rubber-cork materials consist of a rubber matrix such as nitrile rubber (NBR), silicone rubber or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) that is mixed with cork granulate. The cork used may be either natural cork or synthetic cork-like materials that are derived from other sources, such as expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The ratio of cork to rubber and the particle size of the cork granules can be adjusted to produce materials with different physical properties.

Properties and applications

Rubber-cork materials exhibit several properties that make them attractive for use in the gasket and seal industry:

Compressibility: The cellular structure of cork makes it highly compressible, allowing rubber-cork materials to conform well to irregular surfaces, which is essential for creating a tight seal.

Flexibility: Rubber cork materials have good flexibility and resist deformation, ensuring a long service life and maintaining the seal even under thermal expansion or contraction.

Vibration damping: The cellular structure of cork allows it to absorb vibration and reduce noise transmission, making rubber-cork materials the ideal choice for sealing applications where vibration damping is required.

Chemical Resistance: The rubber matrix provides resistance to oils, fuels and other chemicals, making rubber cork materials suitable for use in a variety of harsh environments.

Temperature resistance: Rubber-cork materials have a wide temperature range depending on the type of rubber used in the matrix. This allows them to be used in applications with varying temperature requirements.