Testing of Natural&

Synthetic Wine Corks

Testing of Natural&

Synthetic Wine Corks

Joseph CredoSamuel LinKevin OertelMatt Lawton

Joseph CredoSamuel LinKevin OertelMatt Lawton

History Of CorksHistory Of Corks Cork was known back in Greece and

Rome to have this great property and for having that great 'sealing property'.

In medieval times they tried to use wood in their sacks and pottery urns.

When they developed glass bottles in

the 17th century, wood did not work any more as a stopper.

Cork was rediscovered and used ever since.

Cork was known back in Greece and Rome to have this great property and for having that great 'sealing property'.

In medieval times they tried to use wood in their sacks and pottery urns.

When they developed glass bottles in

the 17th century, wood did not work any more as a stopper.

Cork was rediscovered and used ever since.

Cork ProblemCork Problem

TCA

– is the single most prevalent wine defectassociated w/ natural cork

-it can be generated by a variety of means – most commonly by fungal metabolism of chlorophenols

TCA

– is the single most prevalent wine defectassociated w/ natural cork

-it can be generated by a variety of means – most commonly by fungal metabolism of chlorophenols

Kinds of Wine CorksKinds of Wine Corks

SOLID COMPOSITE

NATURAL SYNTHETIC

WINE CORKS

SOLID COMPOSITE

NATURAL SYNTHETIC

WINE CORKS

Consumer’s Preferred Characteristics for a High

Quality CorkRank (1-5; 1 – highest, 5 – lowest)

Consumer’s Preferred Characteristics for a High

Quality CorkRank (1-5; 1 – highest, 5 – lowest)

1) Extraction Characteristics2) Physical Appearance3) Wine Absorption4) Physical Dimensions5) Natural Materials

1) Extraction Characteristics2) Physical Appearance3) Wine Absorption4) Physical Dimensions5) Natural Materials

Tests:Tests:- Measurement/Observation- Compression - Weight

- Measurement/Observation- Compression - Weight

Tests:Tests:

-Conductivity-Conductivity

Results: Compression TestResults: Compression TestStress vs. Strain

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3Strain

Str

es

s

Natural

1+1plot

Italian

smallsynthetic

Kenwood

Modulus of ElasticityModulus of ElasticityModulus Elasticity of the Different Corks

y = 12188x

y = 1746.6x + 0.5748

y = 1357.2x + 1.0102

y = 987.43x - 0.7006

y = 5459.3x

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035

Strain

Stre

ss

Natural

1 + 1

Italian

Kenwood

Small

Extraction ForcesExtraction Forces

Natural = 52.5lbs

Synthetic(Italian) = 100 lbs

1+1 = 115 lbs

Natural = 52.5lbs

Synthetic(Italian) = 100 lbs

1+1 = 115 lbs

Conductivity TestConductivity TestKenwood – too bigSynthetic (Italian) – too bigSynthetic (Small) – too bigNatural – 0.533 MohmsNatural (Compressed) –

1.74 Mohms1+1 – 2.20 Mohms1+1 (Compressed) – 2.58 Mohms

Kenwood – too bigSynthetic (Italian) – too bigSynthetic (Small) – too bigNatural – 0.533 MohmsNatural (Compressed) –

1.74 Mohms1+1 – 2.20 Mohms1+1 (Compressed) – 2.58 Mohms

ReferenceReference

www.corkskegs.com

www.stratsplace.com/how_corks.html

www.corkqqc.com

www.corkskegs.com

www.stratsplace.com/how_corks.html

www.corkqqc.com