Mechanical Properties of Cork Composite Boards Reinforced with Metal, Glass Fiber, and Carbon Fiber

For effective applicability of reinforced cork, cork composites reinforced with metal, glass fiber, and carbon fiber were developed, and the effects of the reinforcing materials on the mechanical properties of cork composites were investigated. The bending moduli of elasticity (MOE) of cork composites were in the 32.7–35.9 MPa range, while the bending strength values were in the 1.62–1.73 MPa range. The strength performance decreased in the order cork-metal > cork-carbon fiber > cork-glass fiber. The bending MOEs were improved by 29%–41% compared with simple cork boards, while the bending strengths of reinforced cork were 35%–45% higher. The strength performance significantly improved following the incorporation of thin mesh materials into the middle layer of the studied cork composites. The bending strains of the cork composites were remarkably higher compared with oak wood, making them promising for applications that require bending processing, such as curved jointing. The internal bond strengths of the cork composites were 0.26–0.44 MPa, approximately 0.36–0.60 times lower compared with medium-density fiber boards.