Comparison of wear resistance and quietness of medical casters made of different materials (PU, rubber, and silicone), along with application-specific recommendations.

Medical casters made of different materials vary significantly in wear resistance and quietness, so the choice should be based on application requirements:

PU (polyurethane) casters offer the best overall performance: they offer strong wear resistance (85-90 Shore A hardness), tear and puncture resistance, and are less likely to crack after long-term use. They are suitable for high-frequency movement of treatment carts and infusion carts (over 50 movements per day). They are moderately quiet, with rolling noise levels of approximately 55-65 decibels. Their elastic wheel absorbs ground vibrations, making them suitable for general medical areas such as wards and corridors.

Rubber casters offer exceptional quietness: their natural rubber or nitrile rubber treads are soft (60-70 Shore A hardness), rolling noise levels as low as 45-55 decibels, and low friction against the floor, making them suitable for environments requiring exceptional quietness, such as ICUs and neonatal wards. However, they have poor wear resistance and can easily age and harden with prolonged contact with disinfectants. They are more suitable for low-frequency mobile equipment (such as patient monitor carts) and require regular inspection for cracks on the wheel surface.

Silicone casters are primarily designed for clean and specialized applications: they offer moderate wear resistance (Shore hardness 70-80A) but are extremely chemically resistant, can withstand high-temperature steam sterilization and strong disinfectants, and do not release volatiles, making them suitable for operating rooms and sterile cleanrooms. They are quieter than PU, at approximately 50-60 decibels, but have a lower load capacity (single wheel load ≤ 80kg), making them more suitable for lightweight precision equipment (such as ultrasound carts).

Suitability recommendations: Choose PU for high-frequency, heavy-duty applications (such as hospital beds and large treatment carts), rubber for quiet operation (ICU and ward equipment), and silicone for sterile and corrosion-resistant applications (such as operating rooms and sterilization equipment). Consider the flooring material when choosing a caster. For example, PU/rubber is preferred for PVC floors, and avoid overly hard materials for tile floors to prevent scratches.