Vulkollan^® Thé ultimate elastomer!
It stands for high quality, long-lasting components.

• High damping:  Vulkollan® wheels offer a low compression set for strong damping and high grip.
• Stable and rigid: Vulkollan® elastomers enable smooth rolling thanks to high material stiffness.
• Low heat build-up: Minimal heat build-up enables high-frequency acceleration and deceleration.
• Wear resistant: Load wheels made with Vulkollan® offer very high resistance to wear and tear.
• Low-maintenance: High abrasion resistance reduces wheel replacement and extends service life.

Reliable performance and maximum service life are the main distinguishing factors of Vulkoprin wheels made of Vulkollan® polyurethane:

• Temperature range: -40°C to +85°C, short-term to +120°C.
• 75, 80, 85, 92 or 95 Shore A
• Low rolling resistance
• Good grip
• High load capacity
• Vibration and sound attenuation
• Resistant to oils, greases and various chemicals
• Non-marking
• Wear-resistant
• Suitable for medium to heavy laods on clean-, but also irregular-  as surfaces in bad condition.

What is the difference between Vulkollan® and other polyurethanes?

Vulkollan® can only be manufactured by licensed processors as VULKOPRIN. They produce wheels and castors to deal with highest dynamic loads, technical and semi-finished parts.

In a multistage process developed by Covestro (former Bayer Material Science), solid Vulkollan® is produced through chemical reactions between

• polyester polyols of the high-quality Vulkollan® range, Desmodur® 15 and glycols.

Desmodur® 15 is the trade name for 1,5-naphthylene di-isocyanate (NDI) from Covestro. NDI is an essential curing agent for PU products. Unlike widely used diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and tolulene diisocyanate (TDI), NDI is with stiff structure and high melting point.

The NDI-based elastomers combine the elasticity of an ether based material with the toughness of an ester based elastomer. Those NDI-based cast PU elastomers used in the automotive/transportation industries commonly to enhancing safety, which demand for both highest mechanical and dynamic load-bearing characteristics., NDI-based cast polyurethane elastomers features not only more robust and durable, it also has superior physical properties, i.e. wear resistance and heat resistance.

Other common PUR elastomers have MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) or TDI (Toluene DiIsocyanate) as their hard segment. There are no unambiguous standards for the composition of MDI and, depending on the manufacturer, numerous variations and quality levels are supplied.

In what hardnesses is Vulkollan® produced?

In principle, Vulkollan® can be offered in different hardnesses. In practice, however, a hardness of 90 to 92 Shore A is the standard that can be used for most applications. At this hardness, the mechanical properties of Vulkollan® are best balanced.

For applications where the load capacity at 92 Shore A is insufficient, the choice of 95 Shore A is also possible. In this way, the load capacity increases by approx. 15%. However, in some applications, Vulkollan® 90 Shore A is too hard and can cause damage. Here we recommend a hardness of 80 Shore A, but this reduces the load capacity by half.

What is the tensile strength of Vulkollan® compared to other materials?

Vulkollan® has a high tensile strength. Vulkollan® 90° shore A can be extended up to almost 7 times its original length.

How resistant is Vulkollan® to cracking?

Vulkollan® has very good tear resistance. In addition, the tear resistance when notched is also very good. Although lower than when not notched, the tear resistance has not been matched by any non-reinforced elastomer, according to Graves. Vulkollan® is impervious to cut damage and even if the upholstery is damaged, the material does not break down further and thus remains functional.

At what temperatures can Vulkollan® be used?

Vulkollan® remains elastic and shock-absorbing down to – 40°C.  At temperatures up to about 120°C, with the exception of the modulus of elasticity, there is a reversible reduction in most properties. The resistance to tearing and therefore the resistance to wear are greatly reduced at temperatures above 80°C.  At temperatures above 120°C, permanent damage to the chemical structure occurs.

Does Vulkollan® have a longer lifespan than other materials?

Vulkollan® has exceptionally good abrasion resistance. To maintain optimal wear resistance, the temperature should not rise too much.

Reliable performance and maximum service life are the main differentiators of Vulkollan® wheels.

Can Vulkollan® still be processed?

Vulkollan® can still be processed, but the elastic characteristics of the material must be taken into account.

What are the effects of UV light on the quality of Vulkollan®?

The natural color of Vulkollan® is light brown. Under the influence of UV light, Vulkollan® turns  dark. Colour changes do not affect the quality.

Can hydrolysis affect the quality of Vulkollan®?

Hydrolysis is the decomposition of polyurethanes through contact with (hot) water. In hot and humid environments, the deterioration by hydrolysis can be slowed down by adding STABAXOL to the Vulkollan®.

Flat side when stationary for long periods of time under load?

Vulkollan® has a very small permanent deformation compared to other polyurethanes. As a result, wheels with Vulkollan® suffer  the least from “flat edges”, also known as the Monday morning sole.

Is Vulkollan® an insulator or a conductor?

Vulkollan® is an insulator.  To make the tread conductive, Printhane-C™ was developed. Printhane-C™ has the same properties as the standard Vulkollan®, but has an electrical resistance that is significantly lower than 10^4 Ohms (standard to use the term ‘electrically conductive’).  Printhane-C™  is produced in black (non-marking!), as is common in the wheel industry for antistatic (electrical resistance between 10^5 and 10^7 Ohm) or electrically conductive (resistance < 10^4 Ohm) wheels.