Everyone knows of felt, a textile material made by condensing fibers together. While felt was historically made out of natural materials, this is no longer the case. There are so many modern types of felt, ranging from wool felt all the way to felt made of acrylic and polyester, each of which has an important role to play in modern manufacturing and artisan work. With that in mind, here’s a comprehensive guide through the types of feelings and their differences. 

1. Wool Felt

Wool felt is a natural material. It’s made out of fibers of sheep’s wool, which means that it’s completely free from synthetic additives. At the same time, this has made it quite unpopular with the vegan population, which is why more and more manufacturers and felt enthusiasts are turning toward alternative forms. 

This felt has a very soft texture, which is why it’s used in the clothing industry. Whenever you’re aiming for comfort, chances are that wool felt might have an application in this field. 

On top of this, it also has a pretty high heat resistance. This is what makes it quite useful in the field of insulation and for the manufacturing of protective gear. On the one hand, it’s not thermoconductive, but, at the same time, it won’t catch fire as easily, which makes it pass many of these regulations. 

Wool felt is biodegradable, which means that you don’t have to worry about it leaving a harmful residue in some landslide in centuries and millennia to come. It’s a natural material that breaks down naturally. 

2. Acrylic Felt

This is the complete opposite of wool felt. You see, it’s made from acrylic fibers, which means that it’s a synthetic option for all those who don’t feel comfortable with natural wool. First of all, most natural materials have allergens, and second, we’ve already mentioned that some accuse the natural harvesting of wool as an action that furthers animal cruelty. 

Since it’s synthesized artificially and from inexpensive raw materials, acrylic felt is incredibly affordable. In fact, it might be the cheapest and the most cost-effective item on this list.

Also, since it’s synthesized in a lab, it can be made to be of any color. This gives it a wide color range, which means that it can fit any aesthetic frame you need it to. This feature also makes it popular for art, crafts, and decorative projects, as well as common manufacturing. 

It’s less durable than wool but might still outperform it on the cost-effectiveness scale. In other words, what it lacks in durability, it makes up for in 

3. PET Felt

First of all, PET felt is made out of recycled plastic bottles, which makes it incredibly eco-friendly and sustainable. It’s a material that has an infinite amount of raw resources, and instead of causing more waste, it’s actually helping us in our recycling efforts. 

PET felt is great for acoustic insulation, which is why, in the modern day and age, it’s mostly used for manufacturing acoustic panels. These have a wide application both in commercial and residential areas. With the rise of content creation and podcast culture, the demand for this material can only go up.

Another thing you need to know about PET felt is that it’s an incredibly durable material. It’s resistant to decay, it doesn’t corrode, and it won’t catch mildew or mold. Most importantly, as we’ve already mentioned, it’s mostly used for acoustic panels, which means that it’s mostly used indoors. Even if it weren’t resistant to all of these conditions, it wouldn’t be exposed to any kind of extreme weather that could damage it.

The fact that it’s lightweight makes it incredibly cheap and convenient to work with. 

4. Rayon Felt

So far, we’ve covered the natural, the artificial, and the recycled form of felt; now, we get to the most interesting ones, the composite ones. Rayon felt is a semi-synthetic fiber made from cellulose. This is a natural substance derived from wood pulp (a material similar to paper), but it’s generated in a lab, which makes it a semi-artificial material. 

The material is smooth and soft, which makes it ideal for delicate crafts and detailed work. It’s so easy to manipulate, which is why artisans and artists are using it for embellishments and intricate projects. 

At the same time, this limited case use might not make it as appealing to the general populace. 

One downside of felt compared to other forms is that it absorbs significantly less moisture. However, this can also be seen as an advantage, as it makes it less prone to mold and mildew. At the same time, you might want to use something else if you do need something more absorbent. 

5. Blended Felt

Finally, you have a blended felt, which is a combination of natural and synthetic materials. The aim is always to improve the material’s performance, seeing as the mixing process isn’t exactly simple. 

Blended felt is meant to have more balanced properties, which mostly focus on keeping the positive sides (as much as possible) and negating downsides. This makes it more versatile but may also diminish some of its strengths. In other words, when you’re looking for something universal and versatile, you go for blended felt. If you need something that’s really strong in one property, it might be better to aim for one of these other specialized types of felt.

As expected, blended felt has versatile applications, which range from industrial uses all the way to the decor and clothing industry.

The material is quite cost-effective, not just due to its cost but due to its properties. You get a superior cost-to-value ratio when using it.

Wrap up

While felt, as a material, sounds like something simple and easy to understand, it can be incredibly versatile, depending on the type of felt we’re talking about. Each of these major types is good for a specific purpose, and doing your research will enable you to pick the appropriate material for each. Remember, felt is just a description of the texture of the material, not the material itself.