Bio-construction and Renewable Raw Materials: The Case of Cork

Abstract

In the field of bio-construction the use of low environmental impact materials is increasingly widespread. Such components act as a factor of “passive climate conditioning” and require little energy during the production, maintenance and disposal/recycling phases. A great attention was granted to the principles of “social, mental and physical well being supported by the communities in favor of non-harmful materials”, that discourage the use of non-transpiring insulating compounds of synthetic origin. Fiberglass or rockwool, polystyrene, urea foams, formaldehyde and other materials normally used in building can release potentially hazardous substances. Furthermore, their structure renders the insulated rooms waterproof affecting the transpiration; this, together with the sealing of doors and windows, contributes to indoor pollution. Bio-construction prefers to use thermal and acoustic insulators that are easy to use and to apply to supporting and/or covering structures, and to ornamental components as well. In the form of insulating panels of various thicknesses and densities, but also in agglomerates with other materials such as rubber, and the preparation of premixes, cork has a number of important applications in the construction sector. The various segments of the construction market (bio-construction, insulation and reconstruction of traditional buildings, large-scale works) constitute an important outlet for cork end-products, capable of promoting the diversification of the sector with regard to cork stoppers, expanding opportunities for operators in the sector and allowing the exploitation of main process waste products. The chapter analyses the production of sustainable insulating materials starting from the cork industry waste, with specific focus on the cork production district of Sardinia.