SAE F-26 Pressed Felt
SAE F-26 Pressed Felt is a needled wool felt with a minimum of 45% wool content, rated 3 on a firmness scale of 1–10, designed for packing, padding, and sound absorption in non-mechanical applications. It delivers 99% recovery within one minute after 10% deflection and a noise reduction coefficient of 0.65 at 1″ thickness, with a service temperature range of -80°F to +200°F (-62°C to +93°C). Standard widths of 72″ are available in thicknesses from 1/8″ to 1″.
Key Properties
- Hardness Range (Shore A): 5–15 (ASTM D2240)
- Compressibility (10% defl.): 1 psi (ASTM D461)
- Recovery (within 1 min after 10% defl.): 99% (ASTM D461)
- Nominal Specific Density: 0.15 g/cm³
- Temperature Range: -80°F to +200°F | -62°C to +93°C
Noise Reduction Coefficient (1″): 0.65 (ASTM D461)
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- Specifications
- Applications
- General Info
- FAQs
Physical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Material | Felt | — |
| Specification (J314) | F-26 | — |
| ASTM Classification (D2475) | 17R2 | ASTM D2475 |
| Federal Specification (C-F-206G) | 8R5 | — |
| Color | Grey | — |
| Minimum Wool Content | 45% | — |
| Nominal Specific Density | 0.15 g/cm³ | — |
| Standard Thickness Range | 1/8″ to 1″ | 3.17mm to 25.4mm | — |
| Standard Width | 72″ | 1.83m | — |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Hardness Range (Shore A) | 5–15 | ASTM D2240 |
| Mullen Bursting Strength (1/8″) | 25 psi | ASTM D461 |
| Compressibility (10% defl.) | 1 psi | ASTM D461 |
| Recovery (within 1 min after 10% defl.) | 99% | ASTM D461 |
| Coefficient of Friction | 0.37 | ASTM D461 |
| Abrasion Resistance | Poor | — |
Thermal Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Temperature Range | -80°F to +200°F | -62°C to +93°C | — |
| Thermal Condition (70°F) | 0.25 btu / hr / sq ft / °F / in | ASTM D461 |
| Thermal Expansion | 0 | ASTM D461 |
Acoustic Properties
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Noise Reduction Coefficient (1″) | 0.65 | ASTM D461 |
| Vibration Absorption — Static Load Bearing Cap/Unit Area | Low | — |
| Vibration Absorption — Dynamic Stress Endurance | Low | — |
Environmental Performance
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Effect of Sunlight and Oxidation | None | — |
| Solvent Resistance and Stability in Oil | Excellent | — |
| Acid Resistance — Dilute | Fair | ASTM D461 |
| Acid Resistance — Concentrated | Poor | ASTM D461 |
| Alkali Resistance — Dilute | Fair | ASTM D461 |
| Alkali Resistance — Concentrated | Low | ASTM D461 |
| Air Permeability (1/16″) | 100–200 cfm / sq ft / 0.5″ H₂O | ASTM D461 |
| Liquid Absorption — By Weight | > 400% (1.0 sp gr) | ASTM D461 |
| Liquid Absorption — By Volume | 92% | ASTM D461 |
Thickness & Weight Tolerances (Imperial)
| Nominal Thickness (in) | Thickness Limits (in) | Nominal Weight (lb/yd²) | Weight Limits (lb/yd²) |
| 1/8 | 0.085 – 0.165 | 0.90 | 0.81 – 0.99 |
| 1/4 | 0.194 – 0.306 | 1.80 | 1.62 – 1.98 |
| 3/8 | 0.303 – 0.447 | 2.70 | 2.43 – 2.97 |
| 1/2 | 0.412 – 0.588 | 3.60 | 3.24 – 3.96 |
| 3/4 | 0.730 – 0.870 | 5.40 | 4.86 – 5.94 |
| 1 | 0.848 – 1.152 | 7.20 | 6.84 – 7.92 |
Thickness & Weight Tolerances (Metric)
| Nominal Thickness (mm) | Thickness Limits (mm) | Nominal Weight (kg/m²) | Weight Limits (kg/m²) |
| 3.1 | 2.16 – 4.19 | 0.49 | 0.44 – 0.54 |
| 6.4 | 4.93 – 7.77 | 0.98 | 0.88 – 1.07 |
| 9.5 | 7.70 – 11.35 | 1.46 | 1.32 – 1.61 |
| 12.7 | 10.46 – 14.94 | 1.95 | 1.76 – 2.15 |
| 19.1 | 16.00 – 22.10 | 2.93 | 2.63 – 3.22 |
| 25.4 | 21.54 – 29.26 | 3.90 | 3.71 – 4.29 |
- Crate liners and interior packaging pads for protecting parts during shipping and storage
- Sound absorption panels and acoustic insulation in enclosures and equipment housings requiring an NRC of 0.65 at 1″ thickness
- Sports equipment padding and cushioning in applications requiring soft, conformable, and recoverable felt
- Separation and cushioning pads between parts or assemblies where surface protection and non-slip friction are required
- Non-mechanical padding and packing in industrial, commercial, and consumer applications across the full -80°F to +200°F temperature range
Common industries: Packaging and shipping, acoustic engineering, sporting goods, industrial manufacturing, consumer products.
SAE F-26 Pressed Felt is a needled wool felt meeting SAE specification J314 grade F-26, ASTM classification D2475 grade 17R2, and Federal Specification C-F-206G grade 8R5.
Manufactured strictly through needling — rather than through a combination of needling and other processes — F-26 is less resilient than other felt grades and will break down more quickly under mechanical stress, making it appropriate for packing, padding, and cushioning in non-mechanical applications.
With a firmness rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, it is soft and highly conformable, adapting readily to irregular surfaces in crate lining, sports equipment padding, and part separation duties.
The material exhibits good sound absorption, with a noise reduction coefficient of 0.65 at 1″ thickness. It demonstrates 99% recovery within one minute after 10% deflection, excellent solvent resistance and stability in oil, and no effect from sunlight and oxidation. Liquid absorption is greater than 400% by weight and 92% by volume, and air permeability at 1/16″ is 100–200 cfm/sq ft/0.5″ H₂O.
Thermal conductivity at 70°F is 0.25 btu/hr/sq ft/°F/in with zero thermal expansion. Acid and alkali resistance is fair for dilute concentrations and poor to low for concentrated exposures. Abrasion resistance is rated poor. The coefficient of friction is 0.37. Vibration absorption — both static load bearing capacity and dynamic stress endurance — is rated low.
What differentiates SAE F-26 Pressed Felt from firmer SAE felt grades?
SAE F-26 is manufactured strictly through needling — without the additional processing steps used in firmer felt grades — resulting in less resilience and a lower firmness rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 10 (Shore A hardness 5–15). This makes F-26 the softest and most conformable grade in the SAE pressed felt series, ideal for cushioning and padding applications, but also means it will break down more quickly under sustained mechanical stress than higher-firmness grades.
Why is hardness important when selecting a pressed felt for packing and padding applications?
Hardness directly determines how a felt behaves under compressive load — how much force is required to deflect it and how well it conforms to irregular surfaces. F-26's very low Shore A hardness of 5–15 means it deflects easily under minimal load (1 psi at 10% deflection) and conforms fully to the surfaces it contacts, distributing pressure uniformly across the pad. For padding and packing applications, this low hardness is an asset; for mechanical applications requiring sustained load-bearing without permanent deformation, a firmer grade would be required, as F-26's abrasion resistance is rated poor and it will break down faster under mechanical stress.
What is the service temperature range for SAE F-26 Pressed Felt?
AE F-26 Pressed Felt is rated for service from -80°F to +200°F (-62°C to +93°C), as listed on the TDS.
Is SAE F-26 Pressed Felt suitable for applications requiring chemical resistance?
F-26 offers excellent solvent resistance and stability in oil, and fair resistance to dilute acids and alkalis. Resistance to concentrated acids is rated poor and to concentrated alkalis is rated low. It shows no effect from sunlight and oxidation. For chemically aggressive environments, the specific concentration and type of chemical should be evaluated against these ratings before specifying F-26. No compliance standards are specified on the manufacturer's TDS for this material.
How should SAE F-26 Pressed Felt be specified?
Specify grade (SAE F-26 Pressed Felt), thickness, color (grey), dimensional tolerances, and finished format.
