Materials Science Forum, Vol.514-516, 940-944, 2006
Study of electrical properties of natural cork and two derivative products
Electrical properties of natural cork, commercial cork agglomerates (for floor and wall coverings) and a recently developed composite of cork/TetraPak (R) were studied. Measurements of isothermal charge and discharge currents were made for natural cork samples in different directions (axial, radial and tangential cuts). The isothermal current characteristics and the samples conductivity were investigated under different conditions (electric field, temperature and environmental conditions: in air at ambient relative humidity (RH), dry air and vacuum), also the samples could be or not conditioned (dried in vacuum or in a P2O5 atmosphere at room temperature). From these results the influence of water on the electrical properties of natural cork could be seen. In order to compare the three different cork materials a preliminary study was made. Isothermal charge and discharge currents and conductivity after 1h charging were measured and compared for different electric fields and temperature in air at ambient RH.