Loose wheel in solid PP

Loose wheel with a solid wheel in PP

This is a loose wheel molded entirely in polypropylene, PP, a light and chemical-resistant material. With a hardness around 65 degrees Shore D the tread is hard, but not quite as stiff as nylon, and the hub is in the same PP. The wheel comes in a range of sizes and suits light to moderate loads where low weight and good chemical resistance are what is asked for.

PP is one of the lightest tread materials and stands up to a wide range of chemicals, acids and bases better than many other plastics. The solid tread rolls with low rolling resistance on even floors and does not take up moisture. The low weight of the material shows through the whole wheel, which makes it easy to handle and cheap to build in. The surface is smooth and easy to clean, and the wheel handles regular contact with water and cleaning agents.

PP is hard enough to roll easily but is not made for heavy loads; the series carries up to 170 kg per wheel. Compared with a PA6 wheel, PP is lighter and more chemical-resistant but carries less and is slightly less dimensionally stable under high load. Compared with a soft rubber or polyurethane wheel, PP is still hard, so it does not cushion shocks and is not quiet, but it spares the material budget and stands up to chemicals that attack softer materials. Choosing this wheel means you put low weight, chemical resistance and easy rolling ahead of comfort and high load.

The wheel comes with two bearing options. A plain bearing gives a simple and maintenance-free solution that takes dirt and wet and fits well in damp or chemically exposed surroundings, with slightly higher rolling resistance. A ball bearing instead gives lower rolling resistance and a smoother run, suitable when the wheel is rolled often and you want an easy start. The hub is in the same PP as the tread, so the whole wheel is corrosion-free and stands up to chemicals right through, which makes cleaning simpler.

The wheels come in diameters from 27 up to 125 mm. A smaller diameter keeps the overall height low and suits tight installations and lighter equipment, while a larger one rolls more easily over joints and unevenness and lowers the push force. Since the wheel has no bracket, it is mounted straight onto its own axle through the hub, which makes it easy to build into boxes, racks, equipment and your own chassis.

Where does it fit? The PP wheel belongs in laboratories, process industry, washing and chemical environments and in lighter fittings where chemical resistance and low weight carry weight. It sits under equipment carts, rolling racks, crates and equipment that often meets water or cleaning agents. The light, smooth tread makes it easy to keep clean and cheap to build into series-produced equipment.

Think about the operating environment. PP works best at normal indoor temperature and takes wet and many chemicals well, but high temperatures lie outside the range of the material and cold surroundings make it more brittle. On uneven floors the hard tread gives limited grip, and the wheel has to be kept within its 170 kg. On even floors with the right load it rolls easily and without trouble.

Do you want to know which diameter and which bearing suit your equipment or cart, and whether PP handles your chemical environment? Get in touch and we will go through it together.