Issue 15, 2024

Transforming wastes into functional materials: natural cork-based physical structural components and polymers

Abstract

During the transition towards sustainable practices, cork has emerged as a pivotal material. Its distinctive cellular structure and chemical composition, encompassing suberin, lignin, cellulose, and extractives, underpin a multitude of properties. The honeycomb arrangement of cells confers upon cork advantages such as lightweightness, insulation, thermal regulation, and remarkable mechanical performance. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology have enabled precise modifications, broadening the scope of cork's applications beyond conventional uses. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of cork's natural structure and composition, with a focus on its intricate cellular arrangement and specialized suberin components. It elucidates the intricate interplay between cork's structure and properties, evaluating modification strategies and lifecycle impacts. Furthermore, the discussion extends to the realm of functional polymers and structural components derived from cork, underscoring the potential for designing eco-friendly materials. Ultimately, this review aims to catalyze future research endeavors geared towards the sustainable utilization of cork in tackling global challenges, emphasizing the crucial nexus between structure, assembly, and function.

Graphical abstract: Transforming wastes into functional materials: natural cork-based physical structural components and polymers

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
06 Mar. 2024
Accepted
25 Eka. 2024
First published
27 Eka. 2024

Green Chem., 2024,26, 8615-8641

Transforming wastes into functional materials: natural cork-based physical structural components and polymers

W. Zhai, Y. Zhong, M. Xu, X. Wei, L. Cai and C. Xia, Green Chem., 2024, 26, 8615 DOI: 10.1039/D4GC01132E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements