What is the difference between natural felt and artificial felt. What is felt and where is this material used? Varieties of material and their purpose

Felt is a fibrous material with high tensile strength and bending. It tolerates high temperatures well and does not stretch. Hats, bags, heaters are made from it.

History of occurrence

Felt is one of the few materials that have been used since antiquity. The mention of its receipt falls on the time of the Flood. It turns out that the first fabric was made by sheep. Noah gathered the animals in one place for a long time.

While the herd was rubbing and trampling in the cramped ark, the wool fell to the floor and gradually thickened. Felt was obtained as a result of physical pressing. This is one of the very first methods of obtaining natural material. True, the principle of such a process is very long.

Recently, the production technology has changed little. Felt is a non-woven material obtained by felting wool fluff.

Why does compaction occur?

Felt is obtained from natural wool due to the long-term compaction of fluff. The process is greatly accelerated if the material is pressed when wet. High density and tear resistance is obtained due to the special structure of wool fibers.

Felt scales firmly hold their edges to each other. The whole process of fabric production consists in striving to make the grip of the scales as tightly as possible. Felting is the most successful way of mixing down particles. Wet material increases slip and the fibers enter the lock without much resistance, which cannot be parted without damaging the fabric.

The scaly structure has only felt. The photo shows an example of the engagement of the edges of the fibers - the cuticle. Down in the process of felting is exposed to hot or cold steam.

Physical properties of the material

Felt is made from the wool of a domestic animal only. In wild sheep, the fiber structure is strikingly different and it is impossible to make high-quality material from their wool. Felt fabrics have received a wide range of applications due to the unique properties of the material.

An important advantage is its natural composition. In addition to the down of a sheep or other animal, nothing is added to it. Hence the high degree of thermal insulation. The material is suitable for the production of winter clothing.

Along with high thermal conductivity, felt rapidly absorbs moisture and passes it through itself. Thanks to this, it turns out the perfect winter shoes (widely known to all felt boots), in which the feet do not sweat. They are very warm and easy to walk in. Also, the material has an antibacterial property, which prevents the development of microorganisms during long-term wearing of the product.

Felt hats, shoes worn for years. The wear resistance of the material is high, the products are practical. However, more durable materials are used to protect the outsole, which increases the life of the fabric.

Application area

Recently, felt bags have become popular. Often they make coats, hats, furniture, covers for smartphones and laptops. Due to the natural composition, the fabric is suitable for the production of children's toys, carpets.

On sale you can find felt insoles, linings. Often the material is involved in the production of upholstered furniture as various inserts to give an unusual appearance. Such felt is called needle-punched fabric.

Fabric for outerwear is made from rabbit and goat down. The felt is thin and at the same time quite warm. It is also called felt.

Industrial purpose

For various purposes, low-quality material or synthetic felt is used. It turns out to be especially durable, with low thermal conductivity. This allows it to be used for thermal insulation of building facades. During construction, sheets of such material are placed under plaster for sound insulation, under linoleum.

In mechanical engineering, synthetic material is used as gaskets, seals. Thin fabric is widely used in electrical engineering as a dielectric. Another material is involved in the manufacture of saddles.

The engine compartment of cars is upholstered for sound insulation and heat retention in cold weather. It is also laid on the floor in the cabin and trunk. For similar purposes, it is used to upholster the walls of trailers for accommodation of shift workers in the North.

Fabric care

Felt can be cleaned from dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to process it dry. Some fabrics are damaged after washing, an unpleasant odor appears, it is difficult to remove it. A vacuum cleaner would be ideal.

On sale there are special liquids for the care of felt products. Only with the help of them you can clean the material from stains, and you will not have to be afraid of the appearance of a persistent unpleasant odor. It is not recommended to use heat sources to dry the washed product. The fabric may change in size: shrink or, conversely, stretch. There is a possibility of wrinkling, which is then not easy to remove.

To clean stubborn dirt on felt boots, it is recommended to use lanolin. Before washing, pre-soak shoes in cold water. At the end of the procedure, a gentle spin is carried out. Before drying, the material is given a position in which the product will be used in the future.

How to make fabric at home?

You can make felt with your own hands. This will require the natural wool of an animal, always domestic: goats, sheep, rabbits, rams. You will need several components:

  • Time - the strength of the tissue depends on the duration of the procedure.
  • Warm soapy water will speed up the felting process. The scales will be easier to enter the castle with their cuticles.
  • Two hands - we will carry out all the mechanical work with them.

Small balls can be rolled from wool, beads can be made from them. Some knock down layers of material to make a rug. You can give the product its own shape, make a toy. It is better to dry the finished item in a warm room.

Some craftsmen have learned how to make felt from old woolen things. You need to take, for example, an old woolen sweater. We put it in the washing machine. Felting will take place according to the program with the maximum temperature. You will need a tennis ball, which also needs to be placed in a drum to increase the efficiency of material production.
After a few washes, the size of the thing will decrease by almost half. After that, we start the drying mode. The result should be a felt material that needs to be steamed with an iron. This fabric can be cut and shaped into desired shapes. It should be tight and strong. Of course, the quality will be lower than when felting natural wool. But as a material for toys or insulation, it is quite suitable.

Felt sheet is a material that has low thermal conductivity, excellent air permeability and low weight. The use of this material is carried out in the field of instrumentation, in the manufacture of machines as gaskets, seals and filters, which are located between metal surfaces. If we are talking about the latter case, then the sheets are protected from pollution and abrasion, they are not subjected to shocks and shocks. If we are talking about environmental cleanliness, then it should be noted that sheet felt is harmless, so it can be used in the field of private construction when insulating residential and industrial premises. This material is made from natural washed sheep wool.

Varieties of material and their purpose

Coarse-wool technical felt is used for seals, filters and gaskets, as well as as a felt. If we consider the varieties of felt, we can distinguish plantar and shoe felt, which are used to make platforms, insoles, shoes and soles. Podkomutovy and potnikovy felt is used in harness and saddlery. For the manufacture of yurts, felt of the same name is used, but builders use it as a sound and heat insulating material. Sheet felt can also be needle-punched, in which case it is actively used in furniture production. But if the material has the form of a substrate, then it is laid under the linoleum. Another variety is felt. It is a felt made from the down of rabbits and goats, the material is used for the production of hats, outerwear, decor items and bags.

Main characteristics

Sheet felt, as mentioned above, has found its wide distribution today, this is due to the many positive characteristics that are characteristic of this material. Among them are:

  • environmental friendliness;
  • thermal conductivity;
  • antibacterial;
  • ease;
  • wear resistance.

Environmental friendliness lies in the fact that among the constituent elements of the material do not contain toxic substances. Among other things, the material absorbs during operation, and then neutralizes formaldehyde vapors, which makes it simply indispensable as an insulating material in private construction. Coarse wool felt is an excellent heat insulator. Sheep wool does not conduct heat well, and with an impressive amount of wool fibers tightly linked together, the material turns into a unique thermal insulation. It absorbs moisture, bringing it outside the house, which is why buildings where this material is used will never be damp indoors.

Felt boots are the warmest winter footwear for a reason. Feet in them will never freeze, they will not get wet from the snow. Natural felt also has antibacterial properties. Fungi and microorganisms do not start in the material, mold does not appear on the surface and inside. It should be noted also the lightness, which complements the rest of the technical characteristics. The material is highly wear-resistant, it is not afraid of abrasion, so the felt does not lose its characteristics for a long time.

polishing wheels

The felt wheel is the most popular polishing material. It is made from high quality wool, which is pressed during the production process. Circles can be semi-coarse, fine-haired and coarse-haired. Quite often, in the manufacture of felt circles, dense grades of raw materials are used, since others wear out quickly. But fine-wooled circles are used for processing critical parts of instruments and machines. The semi-coarse felt wheel is used for polishing medical instruments, parts of precision measuring instruments and other things. In other cases, coarse wool products are used. Polishing of non-ferrous metals is preferably carried out using soft felt wheels. Such materials work most efficiently at low speeds. Recommended parameters vary from 5 to 10 m per second. If the speed turns out to be too high, then the surface will be harder, and the felt circle will simply fall off it and will be wasted.

More information about felt circles

It is worth remembering that all grades of felt get dirty pretty quickly, so precautions should be taken. Wheels should be kept away from dust and dirt. The idle circle should be closed if it is removed from the drive. It is usually wrapped in blank paper. On a felt wheel, mixing of powders or pastes should be avoided, but if you want to work with a series of dioxide, then you should not use another polishing powder on a felt wheel.

A felt wheel for polishing can be made from thin plates that are cut from the tops of old boots. The diameter of such a circle can vary from 5 to 25 cm, everything will depend on the drive used and the purpose of the circle.

Felt door insulation

Used today for door insulation. The material breathes, so it can be used even in baths with high humidity and temperatures. The material should be rolled up, and on the side where the edge is visible, the roll is laid around the perimeter of the box. Fixation is carried out with a stapler or nails. Additional protection is not required. Technical felt can be used to insulate the entire door leaf, for this, sheets are used, which should be strengthened on the outside. Furniture nails with beautiful hats should be used to fix the insulation by covering it with a leather substitute or any other material. The latter must be weather resistant.

Alternative options for using felt insulation

With the help of felt, not only the doors are insulated, but also the walls, the floor, and the floor of the ceiling. However, it is rather problematic to use this material for wall insulation, and the cost can be high. The price is indicated per kilogram, in this case you will have to pay 200 rubles, the final cost will depend on the density.

Conclusion

Insulation of doors, like any other structures in the house, can be carried out using technical sheet felt. This material has many advantages, you can use them in everyday life when insulating the floor and ceiling. However, sometimes the material requires protection.

  • m. (felting) felt felt, half-knuckled, usually from sheep's wool; bad cow felts, Asians felt and camels. Not yet finished cloth, along the felling and the first pile. Wood plaster on felt. The head is felted with felt. Felt, flatter, knock into a kosh
  • Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language, Vladimir Dal

    felt

    m. (felting) felt felt, half-knuckled, usually from sheep's wool; bad cow felts, Asians felt and camels.

    Not yet finished cloth, along the felling and the first pile. Wood plaster on felt. The head is felted with felt. Felt, flatter, knock into a felt mat, felt or roll. Felt, relating to felt, made from it. Felt grass, see dodder. Felter m. felter.

    Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov

    felt

    felt, m.

      only ed. Dense material made of felted wool.

      A piece of such material of a certain size (spec.). You need to buy two felts for the upholstery of the door.

    Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova.

    felt

    Ah, m. Dense thick material made of felted wool or synthetic fibers.

    adj. felt, th, th. Felt insoles.

    New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.

    felt

    m. Dense thick material made of felted wool.

    Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998

    felt

    FELT (Turk.) Textile material obtained by felting woolen (rarely mineral and chemical) fibers, as well as from mineral wool (on a bitumen bundle). It is mainly used as a cushioning, heat and sound insulating material.

    Felt

    (Turk.), gasket, sealing, heat and sound insulating material obtained by felting. V. is distinguished by a wide variety of species, properties, and purposes. In addition to wool (the main amount) and semi-woolen wool, there are mineral wool from mineral wool on a bitumen bundle and wool from chemical fibers. The main types of V.: a) technical (coarse, semi-coarse and fine wool) with a density of 0.09 to 0.45 g / cm3 in the form of tapes, plates and finished parts used for oil seals, gaskets, shock absorbers and wicks in cars, tractors, harvesters, airplanes, etc., for working shafts and other elements of textile, paper machines, for polishing tin (felt polishing wheels), for musical instruments, prostheses; b) household - sole, shoe, saddlery; c) construction - for insulating the ends of wooden beams in external stone walls, window and door frames, shield joints in prefabricated houses, etc.

    Wikipedia

    Felt

    Felt- dense non-woven textile material made of felted wool. It is usually made in the form of panels, which have different thicknesses, depending on the purpose. Felt varieties made from fine down of rabbits or goats are known as felt. Felt with a short, thick and soft pile is called velor.

    The only natural material from which felt can be made is wool, and sheep's wool is best. Wool fibers have an upper scaly layer - the cuticle. Thanks to him, the fibers can adhere to each other under the influence of hot water and steam. This is the principle of felting.

    Examples of the use of the word felt in the literature.

    Barefoot Lipka threw back the door hook and, letting Rozanov in without any questioning, rushed headlong onto her flea felt.

    The brown and red hills were bare in all their winter ugliness: the old, felt stray grass, stitched in all directions with mouse passages, thick stalks of burdocks, cow parsnip and tsitserbit killed by frost in autumn.

    Wandering about the farm, - continued Fritz, - I found these large heads of hairweed, which, it seems to me, with their elastic woody bracts, can serve us for a comb felt and pointing piles on it.

    Legs, short, in sparse black hairs, with thick, as if swollen, fingers, drove with their heels along felt, poked at the crossed gutuls of Teb-tengri, moved them from their place.

    The worker Zhilin put him in his place, he himself took off the top shoes, put them in a row by the door, where the other shoes stood, and sat down on felt closer to the owners, watching how they eat, drooling wipes.

    In the light of a strong cinder, the cardboard monstrous muzzles of fauns, the glass grapes of the Bacchantes, the quiver and wings of Cupid, the caduceus of Mercury, the trident of Neptune, and, finally, with an explosion of general laughter, appeared before them wooden, gilded, covered with cobwebs, thunderbolts and a pitiful, moth-eaten , effigy of the Olympic eagle, with a plucked tail, with shreds felt, protruding from the perforated belly.

    A speck on the drying board was bubbling with might and main, scattering droplets on the vinyl surface of the wallpaper and on those lying on top of the layer. felt plastic tiles on the floor.

    Around the corner were the Alteseans in their cardigans and conical hats of brown felt, the king over heaps of rubbish.

    When Gul-Jamal was still growing up, Korkud suddenly announced that he would no longer be a shepherd, that he decided from now on to lie on felt near his old yurt, and instead of him his granddaughter will go to graze young lambs.

    From Syria we export purple, from Lebanon - cedar, you will have a magnificent new lexicon from it, from Cappadocia - race horses, from Colchis we export fruits, from Sarmatia and Scythia - furs, from Hyrcania - felt, the Parthians supply us with cotton, from India we export muslin, from China - silk for my dear beautiful daughter.

    Bonfires were not kindled, vainly struggling felt seatposts to warm chilled fingers.

    The pommel had burst and was tied with straps, the seatpost felt torn and dirty.

    Lying on the seatpost felt, looked at the sky strewn with large stars.

    This pad can be a piece of metal or plastic with a piece of felt glued to it, felt, hard rubber or leather.

    Bypassing the vezhu, from which only a skeleton of wire and shreds remained felt, he galloped at the support to the place where the blood-stained naked corpse lay with the block still on its neck, and, sliding off the horse, stopped over it.

    Felt - what kind of material is it: it is a fabric made of felted wool, with good thermal conductivity, the ability to pass air, in the article we will talk in detail about all the features of this non-woven material.

    Photos near:

    Description and composition

    What felt is made of and what it is will help its description and composition. Natural felt is produced using wool felting technology. Felting is done by hand, so the material is presented in the form of separate felted pieces. If the manufacture is carried out by machine, then the finished product is presented in rolls.

    The basis for production is animal wool (in most cases, these are sheep). Sheep wool contains in its composition a special scaly layer on individual hairs, through which (under the influence of temperature) their adhesion to each other occurs. It is widely believed that initially (about 6000-7000 years ago) production was carried out from horse and dog hair, which at that time were just domesticated.

    Sheet:

    Kinds

    What is felt and what varieties does it have:

    • With the addition of felt - this is the fluff of rabbits and goats, outerwear, bags, decor, hats are made from it.
    • Substrate - as a substrate for linoleum.
    • Yurtochny - specialized in the manufacture of Yurts (dwellings of Turkic and Mongolian nomads);
    • Podkomutovy and potnikovy - for harness and saddlery;
    • Construction - used for insulation of rooms and as a soundproofing material;
    • Coarse-wool (technical) - used for filters, as a gasket, for oil seals and also as a soundproofing sheet;
    • "Punched Fabric"- furniture manufacture;
    • Shoe, sole– it is used as a sole, an insole;

    Important characteristics and varieties

    Natural and artificial felt has many positive characteristics, which are also its advantages. Among the most significant are:


    Application area

    Speaking about what kind of fabric felt, one cannot fail to mention its scope:

    We have already talked about this in the context of the types of material: technical, shoe, sweatshirt, yurt, construction, backing, needle-punched fabric, etc. Each variety has its own area of ​​use.

    But we also want to add, but also from the names of the types of felt fabrics, we can say that wool felt is actively used in the field of clothing manufacturing:

    • hats;
    • Slippers;
    • Felt boots;
    • Bags;
    • Coat;

    Photos of clothes:

    Felt toys are a separate large area that is very popular in needlework. Look, for example, at a bunny, beauty:

    Thus, the felt material is applicable in industrial, automotive, construction, textile fields, as well as in many others. It is quite versatile and due to its properties can have very non-standard applications.

    Flaws

    The many positive properties of felt material carefully hide its few shortcomings. But they still exist:

    • Significant shrinkage.
    • Absorption of a large amount of moisture due to the high level of hygroscopicity.
    • Despite being antibacterial, felt is very attractive to moths.

    Coat, bag, shoes:

    Care

    • Toys - cleaning with a soft brush and detergents is allowed;
    • Clothes - dry cleaning or only manual cleaning is used;
    • You can use powders for wool.
    • Dry away from heat sources, gently wring out with a towel;
    • Slippers and bags - can be vacuumed, brushed;

    To minimize the impact of imperfections, it is recommended with advice on the care of this material. On our website you can also see photos of felt with the composition according to GOST.

    On our website there is a description of all woolen materials, we advise you to look additionally at the article "".

    Watch production video:

    This material is currently used in a large number of different industries. Most often, it is praised for the fact that the weight of the product is very small and at the same time, it has excellent thermal insulation. In addition, it can be used as a filter or gasket material.

    Felt according to GOST

    Like many other industrial products, a standard was established for the production of this material that regulates the manufacturing process, technical requirements for the product, its properties, characteristics, marking, packaging, etc. It is worth noting that there are several GOSTs for technical felt. This is very important, since there are several varieties of felt, each of which has its own GOST and its own production process.

    1. There is a fine-wool felt - GOST 288-72.
    2. There is a technical semi-coarse wool felt - GOST 6308-71.
    3. There is also a fine-wool technical felt, which is used in electrical equipment - GOST 11025-78.
    4. Coarse wool felt - GOST - 6418-81.
    5. The last type of felt is yurt. His GOST - 16221-79.

    Felt production

    Felt is which can be made by felting from several of the following materials:

    • production is possible from 100% animal wool;
    • can be made from plant fibers;
    • also for production can be used;

    If we talk about the production of natural technical felt, then it can also be made from coarse wool, fine wool or semi-coarse wool fibers. The structure of this product is scaly. Due to the presence of such a nominal structure, in the process of felting this material, the scales interlock with each other, as a result of which a very dense monolithic fabric is formed. Most often, 100% sheep wool is used for the production of natural technical felt. However, in some cases, wool of rabbits or goats is also used. The product that is obtained by replacing the original wool is called fert and is characterized by the fact that it is softer.

    The use of felt in transport

    One of the many applications of this product is the insulation of a vehicle or its complete thermal insulation. In addition to this characteristic, it is also able to create sound insulation in the car and reduce any vibration. Since most often this material is made from natural sheep wool, at high temperatures it will not emit any harmful fumes into the atmosphere. The maximum temperature that technical felt can withstand is about 200 degrees Celsius. In addition to all these parameters, felt is also able to protect the vehicle from moisture.

    Use of felt in a residential area

    This one is perfect for use in residential buildings. There are several reasons for this. The first reason for the widespread use of this product is that it is considered completely environmentally friendly and harmless to human health. The second reason is to provide excellent protection of the room from drafts, as well as cold. It can be used as an insulating material, laying it in the gaps between windows or doors. The third reason for the widespread use of technical felt, therefore, is that this material perfectly isolates the interior from external odors. Also, the use of this material will provide decent protection against mold and dampness in the room.

    However, these applications are only a small part of the vast number in which it is also used. It is used quite a lot in the construction industry, in the manufacture of furniture, as well as in the creation of musical instruments. Such a large number of areas of application of the same material is explained by the fact that in the process of creation it is possible to give it various characteristics that are required in a particular industry.

    Application of felt by type

    Coarse wool felt is used in places where the load and also the speeds are not too high. This type of felt is used in places where technical requirements are not too high. It has also found a place in foundation construction as bitumen-impregnated pads.

    There is a type of fine-wool felt used in prostheses. In prostheses of the TU 803-54 type, this material serves as a gasket, as well as parts of the prostheses themselves. Most often, hands and finger parts of the foot are produced from it. The thickness of technical felt is 20 mm, 40 or 50. The composition of this material itself is 85% and the remaining 15 are combed noils.

    Semi-coarse wool material is used in more stressed areas, and is also often used as a raw material for the production of small in size, but very strong parts.

    Fine-wool felt has found its application in instrument making, in the most critical places. According to its technical parameters, this type of material can be used for the production of such parts as oil seals, gaskets, filters, wicks.