Does cork get slippery when wet?

Why it happens

Cork is the bark of the cork oak, Quercus suber. Its cell walls are roughly 53% suberin and 26% lignin. Suberin is a long-chain polyester and it is hydrophobic, which means water is pushed away from the surface rather than being absorbed into it and forming the thin film that makes other materials slip.

The same suberin makes cork naturally antimicrobial and antifungal, so it resists mould, mildew and odour without anything being added to it.

What that means in practice

• A wet glass on a cork coaster stays where it is put. A ring of condensation is exactly the condition cork handles best.
• Bar mats and table mats hold a glass steady on a surface that is being wiped down all evening.
• Yoga mats and blocks grip a sweating hand harder than a dry one, which is the reverse of a PVC mat.
• Hot yoga is the clearest case of all. It is the one environment where every rival surface fails and cork improves.

And it is not a trade-off against water damage

It would be reasonable to assume that a material which grips when wet must be paying for it somewhere. It is not. Suberin seals cork's cells, so cork does not rot or waterlog either, which is why wine stoppers last decades in liquid. The grip and the water resistance come from the same thing.

What we make from it

Green Haven makes branded cork coasters, table mats, bar mats and QR stands for bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants, along with corporate gifting. Made in India.

Nearly everything in the range is agglomerated cork, which is cork granules bound and moulded into sheet. The suberin is the same material either way, so the grip behaves the same.

Does cork get slippery when wet?

No. Cork's coefficient of friction increases when damp, so it grips harder as it gets wet. Its cell walls are about 53% suberin, which is hydrophobic and repels water from the surface instead of letting a slip film form. Rubber, PVC and TPE all lose grip when wet.

Why does cork grip better when wet?

Because suberin, which makes up about 53% of cork's cell walls, is hydrophobic. Water is pushed off the surface rather than absorbed into a film, and the friction between the cork and whatever is resting on it rises.

Is cork good for yoga mats?

Yes, and particularly for hot yoga. Cork grips a sweating hand harder than a dry one, where PVC and TPE mats do the reverse. It is the one environment where every rival surface gets worse and cork gets better.

Is cork antimicrobial?

Cork is naturally antimicrobial and antifungal because of the suberin in its cell walls. It resists mould, mildew, bacteria and odour without any additive.