Viability Study for a Carbon-Cork Sandwich Composite

The present dissertation aims at analyzing the current reality of the composite industry while studying the development of a new composite material made with a cork core and CFRP sheets. The continuous search in the aerospace field for new lighter materials with up to standards performance makes of cork and carbon fiber a logical choice for the development of a new composite material. This document covers the design and manufacturing phase, the research and development, the logistics and legal protections, the testing and quality control and the economical and environmental impact. The combination of both materials looks very promising in delivering for the product requirements for a very competitive cost mainly due to the low price of cork agglomerates. This new composite would also effectively reduce the carbon footprint of the aerospace industry given the very reduced environmental impact of cork and the new possibilites for carbon fiber recycling.