Cork composites degradation - exposure to ultraviolet

• DOI: 10.3390/cmdwc2021-09947
• Publication Date: 2022-05-12T09:35:57Z
• Authors: Fábio Fernandes; Sara Figueiredo; Ana Caetano; Rui Novais; Ricardo Alves de ...; António Pereira
• Keywords: Degradation; Ultraviolet

Cork is a natural raw material with unique properties. It characterized by its low density, elasticity, compressibility, impermeability, and also an excellent thermal acoustic insulator as well fire-retardant material, highly resistant to abrasion. Additionally, it has remarkable environmental footprint since completely biodegradable, renewable, recyclable. Therefore, this versatile composites have many different applications, including flooring, wall coverings building facades, among others where faces possible degradation caused exposure conditions. To the authors best knowledge, effects of on cork properties were never addressed. Thus, in order determine theses cork's mechanical properties, aesthetics, subjected accelerated ageing ultraviolet radiation simulating weather conditions, followed testing, scanning electron microscopy Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show how prolongated degrade composites, impact behavior