Working with cork and clay is a challenging task. We experimented with creating  a mixture of cork and clay, by pouring powdered cork into clay, but the result was not satisfying. We also tried to combine the two materials in bigger elements, but clay cracked and contracted after drying. Thus, we decided to work only with cork, making finger joints that were very stable and created an interesting lighting effect.

For the 3d printing excercise we created a platonic solid using the rhino polyhedron extension. We fabricated 8 joints, which were connestd with plastic sticks. The finishing of the holes in the joints was not accurate ( they needed to be a little bit melted) and we should consider making deeper holes, so that the model would be more stable.

For the milling excercise our team chose to test clay. We milled a foam mold to pour powder clay in it, creating twice an organic shape. The procedure helped us realize the challenges we had to face working with clay. The mold needed almost a week to dry and there was a small, but notable contraction on the fabricated design which was different for the two shapes we created, probably due to the different percentages of powder clay and water between the two molding procedures.

For the laser cutting excercise our team worked with 3mm cork sheet. The material in such  thickness is very flexible but quite brittle. We tried several designs, from which the one that could be synthesized in a sphere was this cutout sphere. However, the fabricated result was extremely unstable.

FORMULA/ CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

C123H182O56N

MATERIAL DESCRIPTION

Cork is the external protective layer of dead cells (known as bark) on an evergreen Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber).  The bark is composed of cells consisting of a gaseous composition similar to air particles, combined with layers of cellulose and suberin. The Cork Oak tree grows in the Mediterranean, particularly in Portugal and Spain.

EXTRACTION PROCESS

The harvesting process is achieved by stripping the bark off of the tree during the spring and summer seasons every nine to ten years, using a traditional cork axe.

BASIC PROPERTIES 

1. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (N/M2)                                                            152 N/M2
2. TENSILE STRENGTH (N/M2)                                                                        1.00E+00 N/M2
3. STIFFNESS (N/M2)                                                                                           -
4. DENSITY (KG/M3)                                                                                            100-130 KG/M3
5. CARBON FOOTPRINT (AVERAGE KGCO2E/KG)                                     0.379 KGCO2E
6. RECYCLABLE                                                                                                      YES
7. LASER                                                                                                                   HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
8. SMALL LASER                                                                                                    HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
9. MILLING                                                                                                              HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
10. 3D PRINTING                                                                                                     -

ADVANTAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITAL FABRICATION

Cork is a strong and light material that can be easily manipulated through digital fabircation. Due to its low desnity, it can be easily cut using a laser cutter or milling machine into a variety of forms. The waste it produces can be recycled and re-used for different digtial fabrication designs.

MATERIAL SUPPLIERS 

1. Surotecnia                     http://www.surotecnia.com
2. Bertran Cork                 http://www.exportersindia.com/bertrancorksl/contact.htm
3. Barnacork                      http://www.barnacork.com/empresa-barnacork/empresa-barnacork

PRICE  (€ / KG, CHEAPEST FOUND IN BCN, 2014)

1. Surotecnia   €7.80 per KG

REFERENCES 

Vaulted Cork Pavilion

By Pedro de Azambuja Varela, Maria João de Oliveira and Emmanuel Novo

Concreta 2013, Beinnial at Exponor, Porto in Portugal

The project was accomplished whilst studying in the Digital Architecture Advanced Studies Course (CEAAD), it was a collaborative development between ISCTE-IULisboa and FAUPorto. All the fabrication was achieved at VFABLAB-IUL

“Vaulted Cork Pavillion / Pedro de Azambuja Varela + Maria João de Oliveira + Emmanuel Novo” 08 Dec 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed 17 Oct 2014. <http://www.archdaily.com/?p=455127>

Float

By Benjamin Hubert

London Design Festival 2009

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/09/23/float-by-benjamin-hubert-for-unique-copenhagen/

The lamps are hand-turned out of Portuguese agglomerate cork blocks and created using waste cork from wine stopper manufacturers.  The left over waste is fed back into the process and used to produce the next bunch of lamps.