Wheel Materials

2020-10-30

In order to improve work efficiency, it is necessary to install casters on the equipment. There are various materials of caster wheels. Each material has its suitable environment. The descriptions of eight common caster wheel materials are as below.
 

The materials of the caster wheel

Elastic Rubber 

Rubber materials include BR, NBR, NR, and high-temperature resistant rubber. Ho Caster Industrial mainly uses BR because it has the features of high elasticity, excellent load capacity, great wear resistance, and other resistance capacities making it suitable for use in environments that need a buffer. And HO CASTER’s rubber wheel has added some oil resistant agent, so that it has better resistance against oil. Such wheels can move easily even on uneven floors, have high stability, and can protect indoor floors while decreasing friction coefficient. In addition, other rubber materials may be customized for high-temperature resistance, oil resistance, and more.
(More Information: 3-8 inch Rubber casters)

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)

TPR is a kind of thermoplastic elastomers. The features are having good wear, resistance, shock absorbing, and quiet rolling to protect the floor. Resistant to cleaning chemicals, acids, alcohol, and water, TPR wheels are an excellent choice for wash-down applications, such as medical equipment, laboratory and kitchen facilities. However, TPR is not recommended used in rugged floor and any oily place. Furthermore, Ho Caster has obtained an electroconductive TPE material made from carbon nanotubes for customization and tech industries.
(More Information: 3-6 inch TPR casters)

Polypropylene (PP)

Use the high impact resistance material to product the plastic wheel. It is light weight and excellent in moisture and corrosion resistance. Also, the price is the most economical.
(More Information: 2-3 inch PP casters)

Nylon

Nylon is light in weight and excellent resistances against moisture, wear, and corrosion. Our wheels can be differentiated in the black nylon and the white nylon with highest toughness.
(More Information: 2.5-8 inch Nylon casters)

Cast Iron 

Cast Iron is made of gray iron. Heavy in weight but these wheels are exceptionally long wearing, abrasion, built for high capacity applications and have the ability to withstand extreme heat.
(More Information: 2-3 inch Cast Iron casters)

Phenolic 

Made of phenolic resin and the specific fabric through thermosetting process, phenolic wheels are high load capacities, resistant to extreme temperatures and high compression. It is the high-end material of caster.
(More Information: 2.5-4 inch Phenolic casters)

Polyurethane (PU) 

Polyurethane wheel is suppressive property against fouling to floor surface and the resistance against oil and chemical. Besides, casting PU can’t be hydrolyzed, so it can maintain a stable material hardness and less pollution to the ground, and reduce the starting force(rotary/return). The range of application is quite extensive.
(More Information: 2.5-8 inch PU casters)

Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)

TPU has good wear resistance and abrasion. For our TPU wheel, we will add plastic cover for prevent the dust and beautify the appearance. However, for thermoplastic polyurethanes, it will be hydrolyzed as time went by.
(More Information: 3-4 inch TPU casters)


General Properties of wheel material

Material Elastic Rubber TPR PP Nylon Cast Iron Phenolic PU TPU
Elasticity × × × ×
Wear Resistance
Oil Resistance ×
Water Resistance
Chemical Resistance
Heat Resistance (°C) 60-80 80 80 80 100 200±20 80 80
Cold Resistance (°C) -20 -10 -30 -30 -20 -20 -20 -20

◎-Excellent ○-Good △-Normal ×-Bad
*Temperature will be affected by the time and using environment, please contact us for more details.*

 

Conclusion

There are lots of materials of caster wheel, such as rubber wheel is suitable for most ground, except oily place. Phenolic wheel is used in high temperatures place. So realizing the feature of wheel material is one of the most things in selecting casters.
(More Information: How to select a suitable caster)

 

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