Caster tread materials for cleanrooms: a practical comparison
Dust generation vs load capacity is the core trade-off for cleanroom casters. Compare PU, conductive rubber and nylon treads on particle emission, chemical resistance and noise, with recommendations for three scenarios.
In clean environments the hidden issue is tread wear particles. Three common treads:
1) Polyurethane: wear-resistant and quiet, fits most cleanroom floors; 2) conductive rubber: controlled resistance for ESD plus vibration damping, ideal for electronic test equipment; 3) nylon: hard and durable but louder, mostly for heavy transport areas.
Brackets matter too: stainless brackets survive washing and disinfection for medical and food use. BLICKLE and DARCOR both offer cleanroom series rated 75-1000kg.
Rule of thumb: the cleaner the room, the softer and larger the wheel - fewer revolutions, fewer particles.
