Natural Cork vs SAE F-1 Wool Felt
Natural Material · grade comparison
Natural Cork and SAE F-1 Wool Felt are both natural material grades. SAE F-1 Wool Felt is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 3 MPa (0.406 ksi) against 1 MPa (0.16 ksi) for Natural Cork, about 155% more. SAE F-1 Wool Felt is the more ductile: elongation 40% versus 7% for Natural Cork. Natural Cork is lighter (0.16 g/cm³ vs 0.32 g/cm³ for SAE F-1 Wool Felt) and Natural Cork is stiffer (0.02 GPa vs 0.01 GPa). On the shop floor, Natural Cork sits in a lower cost tier (premium, $$$) than SAE F-1 Wool Felt (high, $$$$).
Natural CorkChoose it when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat.
SAE F-1 Wool FeltChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Natural Cork vs SAE F-1 Wool Felt: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Same in both: Compressive Strength 1 MPa0.15 ksi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 85 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Natural Cork | SAE F-1 Wool Felt |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Natural Cork vs SAE F-1 Wool Felt — frequently asked
Is SAE F-1 Wool Felt stronger than Natural Cork?
Yes. SAE F-1 Wool Felt has a typical tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.406 ksi) against 1 MPa (0.16 ksi) for Natural Cork — about 155% more.
Which is cheaper, Natural Cork or SAE F-1 Wool Felt?
Natural Cork is the lower-cost material: it sits in the premium tier ($$$) while SAE F-1 Wool Felt is high ($$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Natural Cork over SAE F-1 Wool Felt?
Pick Natural Cork when weight is the constraint, or when the part sees heat. Pick SAE F-1 Wool Felt when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Natural Cork and SAE F-1 Wool Felt side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.