WHY YOUR FEET LOVE CORK TILES

                 Suberin.... Cork's Spongy Feel

 

The numerous qualities of Cork can only be understood through analysis of its chemical composition, to identify its various compounds and their average values:
 

| Suberin (45%)
| Lignin (27%)
| Polysaccharides (12%)
| Ceroids (6%)
| Tannins (6%)
 

The main component - Suberin, a mixture of organic aminoacids that coat the walls of the cork cells, prevents the passage of water and of gases. the properties of Suberin are notable: it is pratically infusible and is insoluble in water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, concentrated sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc.
 

... a cubic centimetre of cork contains 40 million cells?
The cells are grouped in a characteristic alveolar structure defining cork's format. A cubic centimetre of cork contains nearly 40 million cells, arranged in rows perpendicular to the cork oak trunk.
 

Each cell is shaped like a tiny pentagonal or hexagonal prism, the height of which is no more than 40 to 50 micrometres
(= thousandths of a millimetre).