Most gasket materials are elastomeric or rubber-like in nature, but there’s another material that’s surprisingly effective in some sealing applications: wool. When compressed to a uniform density wool becomes felt. Felt has been used for sealing and gasketing for a long time and still has its uses. Felt seals suppliers offer a variety of options.
A “Non-Woven” Material
Most felt is produced by compressing wool into rolls of material. Wool fibers have a kind of “fish scale” surface that lets them hook together randomly. This creates a material that’s soft and compliant with a high level of resiliency. It can absorb and hold liquids even better than an open cell foam while resisting attack by oils and temperatures up to 200°F. An added benefit is that felt won’t unravel or fray like woven fabrics.
Industrial wool felt is specified by an SAE standard. This assigns grades from F-1 to F-55. Higher numbers indicate lower density, and these grades have less ability to absorb vibration and resist abrasion.
Felt is produced from other materials, most notably polyester fiber. Polyester felt will withstand temperatures up to 300°F but its properties and behavior are not addressed by the SAE standard.
Uses of Felt Gasket Material
- Noise-deadening
Thanks to strong resilience, felt gasket material can absorb movement between surfaces that would otherwise cause rattles and squeaks. By preventing the transmission of vibration it’s also a good sound-deadening material.
- Filtration
The random orientation of fibers in felt make it a very effective filtration medium. Filtration is further enhanced by soaking in oil. Wool fibers hold oil on their surface, which traps very small particles being drawn through.
This ability to retain oil also makes felt a good seal against moving surfaces such as shafts. The wool adapts to changes in gap while oil provides lubrication and simultaneously prevents fluid transmission.
Compliant but Durable
As a soft gasket material, felt is similar to an open cell neoprene, EPDM or silicone foam. Its upper-temperature limit is lower, but depending on grade, abrasion resistance can be higher. If you’re looking for a material that can lubricate as well as seal, ask about felt.
