Ambient temperature

The outstanding properties of Vulkollan® are explained in the sessions of Professor Bert, which you can consult at our TechCorner.

 

When choosing Vulkollan®, some technical and physical limits need to be taken into consideration first.

 

Vulkollan® remains elastic and shock-absorbing down to -35 °C. At colder temperatures, the tread becomes stiffer, so less elastic, but the status is reversible without repercussions for the quality of the tread.

Up to 80 °C the outstanding properties of Vulkollan® are unchanged, e.g. the tear strength, the wear resistance and the load capacity are constant. Above 125 °C the chemical structure is permanently damaged and the tread is no longer usable.

Heat build-up

Vulkollan® (as all polyurethanes) is a poor thermal conductor. Overheating leads, inevitably, to damaged tread or bonding faillures of the wheel.

 

The main factors for heat build-up are high speed and/or overloading of the wheel, but also wrong dimensions, bad assemblies and environmental circumstances play an important role as well.

 

The right choice of polyurethane and dimensions of the wheel, the correct bearings for the application leads to the best solution for the given application. The Vulkoprin wheel team can consult you in the adequate application.

 

Vulkollan® is not fire-retarding and not fire-resistant (the flash point is around 185 °C).  Between 200 and 240 °C, an irreversible melting process begins, with production of smoke.