Synthetic wine bottle cork Science Image

Ref: 80018919



Synthetic cork. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a plastic wine bottle cork. The air holes within the cork allow it to shrink and expand to fit the bottle neck. An outer skin (not seen) prevents wine seeping into the cork. Plastic corks are beginning to be used to seal wine bottles as they lead to less spoilage, leakage, evaporation and cork dust. Magnification: x120 when printed at 10 centimetres tall.