Method For Preparing Panels Made of a Composite of Cork and Polyethylene

Process for preparation of polyethylene-cork composite panels characterized by comprising the steps of:

• a) mixing 10-64% of cork granulate and 36-90% of polyethylene granulate at room temperature, and feeding a press with this mixture;
• b) compressing the mixture of step a) in the press with a compression force in the range of 300-450 kN, at a temperature in the range of 160-200° C. and for a hot compression time between 24-180 seconds;
• c) cooling to room temperature, with a compression force between 350-450 kN, for a cold compression time between 32 and 240 seconds;
• to obtain panels with a thickness between 3 and 5 mm,
• provided that:
• for a thickness of 3 mm and temperature of step b) of 160° C., the minimum value of the hot compression time is 180 seconds;
• and
• for a thickness of 3 mm when the mixture has 60% or more of cork, the temperature value of step b) is 200° C.