Natural Cork ICB
Grade
ICB = expanded (black) insulation corkboard, steam-expanded, binder-free
Choose for thermal/acoustic insulation and cryogenic pipe supports — lowest conductivity, self-bonded by its own resins, no added binder.
Values for the ICB condition
Other Natural Cork tempers and conditions
Natural Cork is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Natural Cork.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICBThis page Expanded (black) insulation corkboard, steam-expanded, binder-free | Choose for thermal/acoustic insulation and cryogenic pipe supports — lowest conductivity, self-bonded by its own resins, no added binder. | — | 0.08 | — | — | 0.04 W/m·K |
Agglomerated (composition) cork, granules + resin binder | Choose for sheets, gasket stock, floor underlay and cork boards where large uniform panels and low cost matter more than pure elasticity. | — | 0.8 | 5 | — | 0.06 W/m·K |
Cold rolled | Choose for oil-resistant gaskets, transformer and machine-mount pads where higher strength, sealing and fluid resistance are needed. | — | 3 | 25 | — | 0.1 W/m·K |
What is Natural Cork ICB?
Natural Cork ICB is Natural Cork in the ICB grade — choose for thermal/acoustic insulation and cryogenic pipe supports — lowest conductivity, self-bonded by its own resins, no added binder. Natural Cork ICB has a tensile strength of 0.08 MPa (0.0116 ksi), weaker than 100% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi). Natural Cork ICB has a density of 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of natural material grades.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), better than 100% of natural material grades
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 75/100, better than 81% of natural material grades
- Low embodied carbon — 0.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 79% of natural material grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 7%, better than 78% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 0.04 W/m·K (0.0231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Hard to polish — 10/100, worse than 99% of natural material grades
- Low stiffness — 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi), worse than 94% of natural material grades
Natural Cork ICB properties
Typical room-temperature values for Natural Cork ICB; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Natural Cork reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Natural Cork ICB has a density of 0.12 g/cm³ (0.0043 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
Natural Cork ICB has a tensile strength of 0.08 MPa (0.0116 ksi), weaker than 100% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi).
Thermal4
Natural Cork ICB is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 0.04 W/m·K (0.0231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of natural material grades.
Electrical1
Natural Cork ICB has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), better than 81% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Natural Cork ICB takes about 5 MJ of energy and emits 0.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 100%.
Manufacturability2
Natural Cork ICB's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Natural Cork ICB
Is Natural Cork easy to machine?
Die-cut, punched, band-sawn or laser-cut with sharp tooling and high speed; dust extraction required, no coolant.
Can Natural Cork be welded?
Not weldable — join by contact adhesive, PU/PVAc glue or hot-melt; agglomerates are heat-pressed with resin.
Can Natural Cork be formed, bent or molded?
Granules are compression-moulded with binder or steam-expanded in autoclave blocks, then sliced into sheet or profile.
What surface finishes work on Natural Cork?
Sand lightly and seal with wax, PU or water-based lacquer; cannot be polished, surface will stay porous.
Natural Cork chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| suberincross-linked fatty-acid polyester of the cell wall | 33 – 50 | 42 |
| lignin | 18 – 26 | 22 |
| polysaccharides (cellulose + hemicellulo | 12 – 25 | 19 |
| extractives (waxes, tannins) | 8 – 20 | 15 |
| ash + moisturebalance, varies with equilibrium moisture | ≥ 1 (balance) | — |
Natural Cork ICB — frequently asked
What is Natural Cork ICB used for?
Natural Cork ICB is typically used for gaskets, bottle stoppers, flooring underlayment, vibration isolation pads and bulletin boards. In short: lowest-density natural gasket material; best natural vibration damping; closed-cell, non-rotting.
What is the tensile strength of Natural Cork ICB?
Natural Cork ICB has a typical tensile strength of 0.08 MPa (0.0116 ksi) — weaker than 100% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Natural Cork ICB easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades). Die-cut, punched, band-sawn or laser-cut with sharp tooling and high speed; dust extraction required, no coolant.
Can Natural Cork ICB be welded?
Not weldable — join by contact adhesive, PU/PVAc glue or hot-melt; agglomerates are heat-pressed with resin.
What surface finishes work on Natural Cork ICB?
Sand lightly and seal with wax, PU or water-based lacquer; cannot be polished, surface will stay porous.
Can Natural Cork ICB be formed, bent or molded?
Granules are compression-moulded with binder or steam-expanded in autoclave blocks, then sliced into sheet or profile.
What is the maximum service temperature of Natural Cork ICB?
Natural Cork ICB is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, 2nd ed. — Cambridge University Press (Gibson & Ashby) (1997)
- Cork: properties, capabilities and applications (Int. Materials Reviews 50) — Taylor & Francis (Silva et al.) (2005)
- EN 13170 — Thermal insulation products: factory made expanded cork (ICB) — CEN (2012)
- ASTM F104 — Classification System for Nonmetallic Gasket Materials (cork and cork-rubber) — ASTM (2018)
- Amorim Cork Composites technical data sheets (agglomerated, expanded, cork-rubber) — Corticeira Amorim (2023)
- Materials and the Environment (embodied energy/CO2 of natural materials) — Butterworth-Heinemann (Ashby) (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.