The Excellent Mechanical Properties of Cork: A Novel Approach through the Analysis of Contact Stress

Antonio Díaz-Parralejo,José Sánchez-González,Eduardo M Cuerda-Correa,Antonio Macías-García,M Ángeles Díaz-Díez

doi:10.1155/2014/898439

Antonio Díaz-Parralejo, José Sánchez-González + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/898439

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Journal: ISRN Materials Science	Publication Date: May 7, 2014
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: University of Extremadura

Abstract

In many technological applications of cork, this biomaterial is under strongly localized contact stresses, which largely differ from the homogeneous distribution of stresses of the typical uniaxial compression tests. Indentation tests constitute an excellent form of determining the behavior of the materials under localized stresses. In the present study, the applicability of Hertzian and Brinell indentation tests to the evaluation of the mechanical properties of cork is tested. One of the main conclusions of the study is that the elastic anisotropy of the material is related to the anisotropic structure of the different sections cut from a cork sample, a clear difference between the back tangential section and the other sections being observed.

Highlights

Cellular solids are materials possessing cellular microstructures,which are seen in natural materials such as wood, cork, sponge, cancellous bone, and coral [1]
One observes that the tangential section corresponding to the “back” of the sample (TE) is weaker than that corresponding to the “belly” (TB)
Hertzian and Brinell indentation tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of cork

Summary

Introduction

Cellular solids are materials possessing cellular microstructures,which are seen in natural materials such as wood, cork, sponge, cancellous bone, and coral [1]. There have been some recent studies published on the structure and mechanical properties of cellular solids in general [4, 5], and on the mechanical properties of cork in particular [6,7,8], which have helped to better understand the unique properties of this material. There have been no studies on the mechanical response of the material under such conditions In this regard, indentation tests are an excellent form of assessing the damage and behavior of materials under localized stresses [12]. The ranges of these dimensions are as follows: height 30–40 μm, edges of the bases 13–15 μm, cell wall thickness 1-2 μm, and layer thickness 200–3000 μm

Materials and Experimental Procedure

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Conflict of Interests