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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P8e9vpp4Of5ApouTnPdQKgreW6ehQh/jWKqcVZQdVtI5+ewkscYzv6xMp+nggz08
 AOsqenCFFoW8WEuSy4fHBw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001229172-03-000001.txt : 20030707
<SEC-HEADER>0001229172-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030704
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030703215523
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001229172-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030707

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEMAN DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07665
		FILM NUMBER:		03776080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		92 THOMPSON ROAD
		CITY:			AVON
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06001-3014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LYDALL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000060977
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TEXTILE MILL PRODUCTS [2200]
		IRS NUMBER:				060865505
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COLONIAL RD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 151
		CITY:			MANCHESTER
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06045-0151
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036461233

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COLONIAL BOARD CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700115
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000060977</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LYDALL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LDL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREEMAN DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-01</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1122</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6875</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</
value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>106875</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeS
ecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27607</value></sha
resOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>325</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-08</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underl
yingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>325</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27932</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Semiannual Stock Award to Outside Directors in lieu of cash retainer.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Award upon being appointed Chief Executive Officer.  The Restriction Period is five years, and will lapse with respect to 20 percent per year of the total number of restricted shares beginning on 7/1/2004.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Automatic grant to each Outside Director on the date of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Options become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on 5/
8/04.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Grant to each Outside Director in lieu of cash-based retirement benefits.  Options become exercisable in three annual installments beginning on 5/8/04.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret R. Murphy, Attorney-in-fact for David Freeman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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