Natural Cork vs Split Leather
Natural Material · grade comparison
Natural Cork and Split Leather are both natural material grades. Split Leather is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) against 1 MPa (0.16 ksi) for Natural Cork, about 11 times as much. Split Leather is the more ductile: elongation 55% versus 7% for Natural Cork. Natural Cork is lighter (0.16 g/cm³ vs 0.9 g/cm³ for Split Leather) and Split Leather is stiffer (0.1 GPa vs 0.02 GPa). On the shop floor, Natural Cork sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than Split Leather (high, $$$$).
Natural CorkChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
Split LeatherChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Natural Cork vs Split Leather: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 0.1 MN·m/kg
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Natural Cork | Split Leather |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Natural Cork vs Split Leather — frequently asked
Is Split Leather stronger than Natural Cork?
Yes. Split Leather has a typical tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) against 1 MPa (0.16 ksi) for Natural Cork — about 11 times as much.
Which is cheaper, Natural Cork or Split Leather?
Natural Cork is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while Split Leather is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Natural Cork over Split Leather?
Pick Natural Cork when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat. Pick Split Leather when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Natural Cork and Split Leather side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.