Cork insulation; a complete illustrated textbook on cork insulation ...

USES OF CORK 467
Many a time, in a light construction, the loft is not habitable on
account of the difference of temperature which tenants would have
to support. <strong>Cork</strong> tile nailed on inclined joists and on ceiling boards
would make this loft as comfortable as any other story of the flats.
In hot countries, for instance in Algeria, where heat is considerable
during the summer, they use now cork tiles to coat the walls inside,
and Russians are also protected in the same way from cold. In a
word, there are numerous applications of this material as a protection
against heat and cold.
Second. As has been already mentioned, cork material does not
conduct sound. We will give you an example of this, as we had
occasion to observe it in Paris. It was in the Menier house Festival
hall. That house, six stories high, was occupied "by dififerent tenants,
and the use of the hall for meetings and private parties was quite
objectionable to them on account of the disturbing noise at night.
By replacing the plaster ceiling by cork concrete, all objections were
removed. This fact proves how much sound deadening is a cork'
concrete floor, and how useful it will prove to have such a material
where quietness is required, as in library reading rooms, telephone
closets, etc.
Third. A third important property of cork compositions is to
attenuate the vibrations to a great extent; for instance, when near
engine or dynamo rooms are located places where vibrations can be
troublesome, as in drawing rooms or offices, and especially in rooms
%here crystallization of certain salts is carried on. In fact, crystal-
lization is always disturbed and sometimes prevented by a constant
trepidation; and we quote a circumstance in which, having to produce
chrome crystals, the manufacturer had to leave the town and go to
a quiet country place to carry on his work. A cork floor would
have saved all that trouble.
In regard to elasticity of cork, I will mention here the follov.-ing
happy application of that material. To prevent dampness in a gunpowder
factory, all walls had been protected by a cork brick coat,
and all partitions had been made with cork tiles. One day they had
a terrible explosion, as dangerous as they are sure to be in such
cases. If the walls and partitions had been in stones or bricks, the
loss of life would have been serious. The cork product (after having
greatly slackened the vibrations) crumbled to powder, and only a
shower of small pieces of harmless cork dropped on workingmen,
and no one was injured.
Fourth. Lightness and waterproof quality have not to be spoken
of. In a country like the United States, where high buildings are
getting in favor, light partitions are a very desirable device. Everything
has been tried in that line, and a quantity of materials have
been worked on. Among all these, porous brick is as yet probably
the best. But cork tile is a great deal lighter. The specific gravity
of porous brick is represented by 0.70 when that of cork brick is