Cork, in the form in which it is now known, appeared in the 17th century, simultaneously with a bottle of glass. Before that, it was also used, but in isolated cases. Most often, the packaging was clogged with rags or pieces of wood, which led to deterioration of the contents and deterioration of taste. Unlike wood, cork does not swell much, and with proper processing, the taste of the drink and smell do not deteriorate.
General information
Bottle caps differ in shape and design. In the manufacturing process, special components are added that improve the protective function and act as an exclusive sign of the quality of drinks.
Cork for a bottle of wine fits tightly into the neck of the container, retains its properties for a long time and is a product of natural origin, as well as a good quality drink. Corks are made long and hard. Initially, the cork oak bark is removed when the tree is about 30 years old. This material is not used in production, as corks for wine bottles are made only after 3 removal. The second layer has been growing for about 10 years. The production technology consists of several successive stages: six-month drying, careful selection, washing and processing with a disinfectant solution.
Material classification
Bottle caps are different. It all depends on many factors, from which the purpose and material of manufacture are distinguished. The most common types of traffic jams:
- cortical;
- plastic;
- metal;
- rubber;
- from foil;
- synthetic;
- glass.
Corks for wine bottles are cortical (found among some types of champagne). Plastic bottles with soft drinks are corked with plastic stoppers, and containers with mineral water and beer are closed with metal lids. In pharmaceutical production, rubber products are used. Many drugs are corked with foil plugs.
Synthetic plugs based on polyethylene are distinguished by the fact that they do not allow moisture to pass through and are easily pulled out with a corkscrew. The quality of these products may vary, the best in this category are silicone. The advantages of glass corks are ease of opening and closing, interesting appearance. Experts recommend using them for wine that is not designed for long-term storage.
Design separation
Bottle caps are also micro-granular, screw and drag. Micro granular has a homogeneous structure, high elasticity and resilience. The production technology is quite new: food glue and a waxy substance of organic origin (extracted from cork wood) are added to cortical granules with a size not exceeding half a millimeter . The whole process takes place under high pressure.
Screw cork has a low cost, eliminates the risk of developing cork disease, but is not strong enough. It is made of aluminum alloys and synthetic gaskets. Bottle corks can often be found in cosmetic stores and on shelves with olive oil. Good tightness and the possibility of repeated use distinguish the cork stopper from the rest.
Manufacturing Features
The cork is well compressed, and due to this property it can be inserted into the neck of the bottle, where it is pressed firmly against the walls of the vessel because of its elasticity. This is achieved by thoroughly impregnating the material and heating with steam (boiling). If the cork dries, it will become stiff. At the factory, it is pushed through the tube in the neck.
In order to protect the material from the effects of liquids in the bottle, it is treated with paraffin at high temperatures. The cork begins to harden when cooled, so it is kneaded in a special press in order to return the elastic structure.
Wine cork production
Bottle caps made from natural materials are an ideal way of corking that is aesthetically pleasing. The product is resistant to temperature, it is light, it passes the right amount of air well, and does not lend itself to decay. Ordinary natural cork can last about 50 years.
Production begins from the moment the layer cut is removed from the tree. The bark is stored in special rooms for one year, after which it is processed under the influence of high temperatures. Then it is cut into plates and sent for sorting. Stripes are made from the plates, followed by undercutting of cylindrical plugs. The standard length is from 2.5 to 7 cm. It is believed that the longer the length, the higher the price of the drink.
The next processing step is grinding the cylinders to ensure a perfectly smooth surface. After that, the product is bleached and soaked using wax. The final step is to burn the brand name on the cork or press under pressure. Sulfuric anhydride is often added to the cork bottle to preserve the drink.
Yoke
Often you can find square bottles with yoke plugs, which are produced by many manufacturers with the goal of long and proper storage of various liquids. In most cases, the container is made of glass. As a rule, it is small in volume, which is ideal for home storage of salad dressings and olive oil. Glass liter bottles with a stopper of the type in question are used for bottling soft drinks, liquors, tinctures, etc. For beautiful vintage-style containers with an expanded neck, the yoke is an excellent way to keep milk fresh, for example.
The yoke plugs consist of a cap made of high quality and safe plastic and a stainless steel wire holder coated with chrome. These reusable products allow you to keep the freshness of the drinks in the bottle for a long time.
Advantages of the cork
Yarns are widely used for clogging vessels, while ensuring high tightness and reliability of the packaging. Using these bottle caps, you can be sure of the ease of use and preservation of the properties of the drink. Repeated use allows significant savings.
Cork plugs are a worthy alternative to products of natural origin. For wine, this type is rarely used, because, according to experts, a wine bottle loses its centuries-old aesthetic appearance. However, aspects in the field of ecology and economy in the future may supplant the classical ideas about the options for clogging bottles.