Cork Board Insulation (25mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm)
Cork board insulation (Insulation Corkboard, ICB) is manufactured from expanded cork granules derived from cork oak bark, processed without synthetic binders through a natural steam/autoclave expansion process at approximately 350 degC. The cork's natural suberin resin acts as the binding agent, creating a 100% natural product with zero synthetic additives. This produces rigid insulation boards with thermal conductivity of 0.037-0.040 W/mK, compressive strength >= 100 kPa at 10% deformation, and an extraordinary service temperature range from -180 degC to +120 degC. The cellular structure provides excellent insulation while maintaining breathability and natural pest resistance.
- External wall insulation (EIFS) systems
- Roof and ceiling insulation
- Under-floor insulation
- Thermal bridge breaking applications
- Passive house and zero-energy construction
- Historic building restoration (breathable insulation)
- Acoustic insulation for sound studios
- Cold storage and industrial insulation
Cork insulation has been recognised for thousands of years — ancient Mediterranean civilisations used cork for thermal protection and buoyancy. Modern expanded cork insulation board manufacturing began in the early 20th century when the autoclave steam expansion process was developed in Portugal, enabling industrial-scale production without synthetic binders. Commercial production scaled significantly in the 1950s-60s as European building performance standards advanced. Amorim Cork Insulation (Portugal) became the global leader in ICB production, operating continuous manufacturing facilities that process cork oak bark by-products. The material gained renewed prominence with the Passive House movement from the 1990s onwards, valued for its breathable, moisture-managing properties critical for building envelope performance. Australian awareness of cork insulation has grown with Passive House certification and NatHERS energy rating requirements, though all products remain imported from Portugal/Spain. The EPD verified by IBU confirms ICB's carbon-negative lifecycle at -596.50 kg CO2/m3 — among the lowest of any building insulation material. Recent developments include high-density variants for exterior cladding (140 kg/m3) and CNC-millable decorative grades.
DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.