Can rubber casters be used in low-temperature environments?

Whether rubber casters can be used in low-temperature environments depends crucially on the low-temperature resistance of the rubber material. Different rubber types have significantly different low-temperature resistance capabilities, so a generalized approach cannot be made:

1. Ordinary rubber (natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber): Not suitable for low-temperature environments
Natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber are the most basic rubber materials, with a very low upper limit for low-temperature resistance, typically only able to withstand temperatures between -20°C and 80°C.
When the ambient temperature drops below -10°C, the material gradually hardens and loses its elasticity, significantly reducing its shock absorption effectiveness. When the temperature drops below -20°C, it becomes brittle and prone to "stuttering" during rolling, and even cracking and falling apart with minor impacts.
Extended exposure to temperatures below -20°C (such as outdoors in northern China during winter or outside cold storage) accelerates rubber aging, causing damage to the wheel structure and resulting in immediate loss of functionality. The hardened wheel tread can also lead to a sudden drop in load-bearing capacity, posing a safety hazard. This type of caster is only suitable for use in ambient temperature environments (such as indoor office carts and household trolleys) and is completely unsuitable for low-temperature environments.

2. Low-Temperature-Resistant Rubber (Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber): Suitable for mild low-temperature environments
Some specialty rubbers can withstand certain low temperatures and are suitable for mild low-temperature applications:
Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber: Excellent oil resistance, with a low-temperature limit of approximately -30°C (can withstand -40°C for short periods), maintains a certain degree of elasticity within the -10°C to -30°C range, and offers generally stable shock absorption and rolling properties. It is suitable for applications requiring oil resistance and temperatures above -30°C (such as oily carts in low-temperature machine shops and cold storage buffers).
Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM): Excellent weather and ozone resistance, with a low-temperature limit of approximately -40°C (can withstand -50°C for short periods), is resistant to hardening and cracking at low temperatures, and exhibits strong aging resistance. It is suitable for outdoor use in mild low-temperature environments (such as carts used for short-term outdoor work in northern winters) or in low-temperature workshops (-20°C to -40°C).

3. High-Cold-Resistant Rubber (Silicone Rubber, Modified EPDM): Suitable for Extreme Low-Temperature Applications
For use in extremely low-temperature environments below -40°C (e.g., outdoor use in extremely cold regions, deep cold storage, and cryogenic laboratories), select specialized rubber casters with high low-temperature resistance:
Silicone rubber: The typical low-temperature resistance range is -60°C to 250°C, with some high-quality products capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -80°C. These casters maintain excellent elasticity and shock absorption even at extremely low temperatures, without releasing harmful substances. They are suitable for applications such as deep cold storage for food (-40°C to -60°C) and low-temperature medical equipment (such as handling liquid nitrogen storage tanks).
Modified EPDM: Through formula optimization, the upper temperature resistance limit can be reduced to -50°C to -60°C, while retaining the weathering and aging resistance of EPDM. This makes them suitable for outdoor use in extremely cold regions (e.g., carts used outdoors for extended periods during winter in northern China) or low-temperature industrial production lines (-30°C to -50°C).

Conclusion: Choose the right rubber material based on the low-temperature range.
If the ambient temperature is ≥ -10°C (mild low temperatures), standard nitrile rubber and EPDM casters can be used, with oil resistance being a priority.
If the ambient temperature is between -10°C and -40°C (moderate low temperatures), low-temperature-resistant nitrile rubber (above -30°C) or standard EPDM casters (above -40°C) should be selected.
If the ambient temperature is < -40°C (extreme low temperatures), only silicone rubber or modified EPDM casters can be selected, and the product labeling must be verified for the specific low-temperature resistance limit (to avoid false labeling).
In addition, in low-temperature environments, it's important to pay attention to the caster's bearing material (preferably bearings with low-temperature-resistant grease to prevent ordinary bearings from freezing and seizing) and the wheel core material (select low-temperature-resistant plastic or metal to prevent brittle cracking of the wheel core) to ensure the overall structure is suitable for low-temperature conditions.