2023-07-22 16:18:47
July 22, 2023 Benoit Charette
Cork is no longer just for wine. Amorim Cork Composites has launched a new blend of cork and thermoplastic that it says improves sound insulation while being more durable than traditional materials in an automobile. For years, several automakers have used shredded, shredded textiles from cars that are no longer worn, to insulate vehicles.
Cork does a much better job
This new product, called MAC020 Heavy Mass Layer, is 100% recyclable. Traditional materials, normally used in this sector, cannot claim the same. According to Amorim, this product can be used in cars, trains, buses and caravans. In fact, everything that needs to be isolated to prevent outside noise from entering the cabin.
No more expensive
This is the latest step towards building sustainable automotive solutions that go beyond the obvious. Another example is a vegan interior, although this particular route might be a decoy.
The Portuguese company Amorim has been manufacturing cork stoppers for over 130 years, and the composites department was created to look into other areas where cork might be useful. As stated, the MAC020 is not 100% cork, but a hybrid including thermoplastics. These plastics come from recycling, which further reduces waste.
Better thermal insulation
According to Mr. Amorim, this material is very suitable for cars because of its lightness and durability. It also has thermal and acoustic insulation properties, making it ideal for electric vehicle applications. Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicles are not as quiet as one might think. Since there is no motor to muffle exterior and interior noise, sound intrusions are often more pronounced.
No need to cut down a tree to harvest cork
For every tonne of cork produced, 73 tonnes of CO2 are sequestered by the cork oak forest”. No trees are felled to produce cork. The cork oaks are debarked by hand so as not to damage them. Laws have been put in place to ensure that cork trees are not harmed, and harvesters only remove dead cells that accumulate on the outer surface of the tree. The automotive industry is striving to use more sustainable materials in the manufacturing process. Even at the top end, there is enough demand for manufacturers like Bentley to offer eco-friendly options. Add to that Porsche’s very promising synthetic fuel, and it’s safe to say that a 911 with a tweed interior and cork insulation might be even greener than a Taycan.
With information from Carbuzz
About the Author
Benoit Charette / Owner and editor Benoit Charette has been practicing automotive journalism for 30 years. He is the founder, owner and editor-in-chief of L’Annuel de l’automobile, which he has published since 2001. He hosted the RPM and RPM+ programs on V and the Legends of the road on Historia. On the radio since 1986, he hosts the program Ça tenu la route and participates for the second year in the program Passion Auto on RDS in addition to putting the official website of L’Annuel de l’automobile online at annualauto.ca.
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