What are the disadvantages of polyurethane casters?

Five Major Disadvantages of Polyurethane Casters

Despite their significant advantages, polyurethane casters still have the following five shortcomings due to limitations in material properties and manufacturing processes. Therefore, careful selection is crucial based on the intended use scenario:

First, polyurethane casters have limited high-temperature resistance. Polyurethane materials have a low threshold for high-temperature resistance, typically softening above 80°C. Above 120°C, the tread is prone to deformation, sticking, or even melting. These materials are unsuitable for hot environments like those around ovens and on high-temperature production lines, and their application has significant temperature limitations.

Second, their low-temperature elasticity decreases. When the ambient temperature drops below -30°C, the mobility of polyurethane molecules decreases, causing the material to gradually harden and lose its elasticity. This significantly reduces the shock absorption effect during rolling, significantly increasing rolling resistance, and the tread is prone to cracking when impacted at low temperatures, shortening its service life. These casters are unsuitable for use in harsh environments such as outdoor areas in northern winters and in cold storage facilities.

Third, their relatively high cost. Compared to ordinary rubber and plastic casters, polyurethane material itself has a higher procurement cost, and its vulcanization molding process is more complex than that of conventional casters. As a result, the overall price of polyurethane casters is typically 2-3 times that of plastic casters of the same specifications, and 1.5-2 times that of rubber casters. This increases equipment investment costs for bulk purchases and cost-sensitive applications (such as temporary storage carts).

Fourth, polyurethane has poor resistance to strong chemical corrosion. While polyurethane can withstand mild oil stains and weak acids and bases, it swells and decomposes in the presence of strong solvents (such as acetone and toluene), concentrated acids (such as concentrated sulfuric acid), and concentrated bases (such as sodium hydroxide solution), causing tread bulging and cracking. This makes it unsuitable for long-term use in highly corrosive environments such as chemical workshops and laboratory reagent transportation.

Fifth, it is slightly heavier than lightweight casters. To ensure load-bearing and wear resistance, polyurethane casters are usually designed with thicker treads and are often paired with steel hubs. The overall weight is 30%-50% heavier than plastic casters of the same specifications. For scenarios that require frequent movement and have strict requirements on the weight of the equipment (such as portable medical carts), this will increase the manpower burden during operation.