Wheel Materials vs. Chemical Compatibility Guide
Casters and Wheels need to operate in a wide range of environments. Chemical exposure can greatly reduce the lifespan of certain materials so it's essential to pick the right wheel materials as compared to the chemical environments those wheels will be exposed to. Use our guide to see what wheels best fit your application. As always if you have any questions give us a call or contact us.
Wheel Materials vs. Chemical Compatibility Guide
Casters and Wheels need to operate in a wide range of environments. Chemical exposure can greatly reduce the lifespan of certain materials so it's essential to pick the right wheel materials as compared to the chemical environments those wheels will be exposed to. Use our guide to see what wheels best fit your application. As always if you have any questions give us a call or contact us.
Chemical List
The following represents a list of chemicals found in environments where Casters and Wheels are commonly used. Click on a chemical name to open each specific chemical interaction guide and see which wheel materials work the best in each environment.
Warning: The information in these guides is to be used ONLY as a reference in selecting caster wheels for appropriate chemical compatibility. Before permanent installation, test the caster with the chemicals and under the specific conditions of your application.
Analine
Butyric-Acid
Carbon-Tetrachloride
| Acetic Acid | CH₃COOH | A carboxylic acid with a methyl group (CH₃) bonded to a carboxyl group (COOH). |
|---|---|---|
| Acetic Acid Glacial | CH₃COOH | Same as acetic acid but anhydrous (nearly 100% concentration). Structure identical to above. |
| Acetone | (CH₃)₂CO | A ketone with two methyl groups bonded to a carbonyl group (C=O). |
| Ammonium Hydroxide | NH₄OH | Aqueous ammonia, forming ammonium (NH₄⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻) ions in solution. |
| Aniline | C₆H₅NH₂ | A benzene ring (C₆H₆) with an amino group (NH₂) attached. |
| Benzene | C₆H₆ | A six-carbon aromatic ring with alternating double bonds. |
| Boric Acid | B(OH)₃ | A boron atom bonded to three hydroxyl groups, often forming a trigonal planar structure. |
| Butyl Alcohol (Butanol) | C₄H₉OH | A four-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group (OH) on the first carbon (1-butanol is common). |
| Butyric Acid | C₃H₇COOH | A four-carbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end. |
| Calcium Hydroxide | Ca(OH)₂ | Ionic compound with calcium (Ca²⁺) and two hydroxide ions (OH⁻). |
| Carbon Dioxide | CO₂ | A linear molecule with a carbon atom double-bonded to two oxygen atoms. |
| Carbon Disulfide | CS₂ | A linear molecule with a carbon atom double-bonded to two sulfur atoms. |
| Carbon Monoxide | CO | A linear molecule with a carbon triple-bonded to an oxygen atom. |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | CCl₄ | A tetrahedral molecule with a carbon atom bonded to four chlorine atoms. |
| Chlorine, Dry | Cl₂ | A diatomic molecule with two chlorine atoms single-bonded. |
| Chlorine, Wet | Cl₂ (in water) | Same as dry chlorine but dissolved, potentially forming hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in solution. |
| Chlorobenzene | C₆H₅Cl | A benzene ring with one hydrogen replaced by a chlorine atom. |
| Chloroform | CHCl₃ | A tetrahedral molecule with a carbon bonded to one hydrogen and three chlorine atoms. |
| Chromic Acid | H₂CrO₄ | A chromium atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, two with double bonds and two with hydroxyl groups. |
| Citric Acid | C₆H₈O₇ | A six-carbon molecule with three carboxyl groups and one hydroxyl group. |
| Cyclohexane | C₆H₁₂ | A six-carbon cyclic alkane with a ring structure, each carbon bonded to two hydrogens. |
| Dichlorobenzene | C₆H₄Cl₂ | A benzene ring with two hydrogen atoms replaced by chlorine atoms, typically in ortho, meta, or para positions. |
| Diesel Fuel | Mixture (C₁₀H₂₀ to C₁₅H₂₈) | A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily alkanes and aromatics, with carbon chains ranging from 10 to 15 carbons. |
| Diethanolamine | C₄H₁₁NO₂ | A four-carbon molecule with two hydroxyl groups and an amine group, often used as a surfactant. |
| Diethylamine | C₄H₁₁N | A secondary amine with two ethyl groups (C₂H₅) bonded to a nitrogen atom. |
| Diethylene Glycol | C₄H₁₀O₃ | A four-carbon chain with two hydroxyl groups and an ether linkage between two ethylene units. |
| Ethyl Acetate | CH₃COOC₂H₅ | An ester with a methyl group and an ethyl group linked via a carbonyl group. |
| Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) | C₂H₅OH | A two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group on one carbon. |
| Ethyl Ether | (C₂H₅)₂O | Two ethyl groups (C₂H₅) bonded to an oxygen atom. |
| Ethylene Chloride (1,2-Dichloroethane) | C₂H₄Cl₂ | A two-carbon chain with one chlorine atom on each carbon. |
| Ethylene Dichloride | C₂H₄Cl₂ | Same as ethylene chloride (C₂H₄Cl₂). |
| Ethylene Glycol | C₂H₆O₂ | A two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group on each carbon. |
| Fluoboric Acid | HBF₄ | A tetrahedral tetrafluoroborate anion (BF₄⁻) paired with a proton (H⁺). |
| Formaldehyde (37%) | HCHO | A carbon atom double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to two hydrogens. |
| Formaldehyde (40%) | CH₂O | A carbon atom double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to two hydrogens, in 40% aqueous solution. |
| Formic Acid | CH₂O₂ | A single carbon bonded to a carboxyl group and one hydrogen atom. |
| Freon 11 | CCl₃F | A tetrahedral molecule with a carbon bonded to three chlorine atoms and one fluorine atom. |
| Freon 12 | CCl₂F₂ | A tetrahedral molecule with a carbon bonded to two chlorine atoms and two fluorine atoms. |
| Gasoline | C₅–C₁₂ | Complex mixture, primarily hydrocarbons. Typically alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatics. |
| Glucose Solution | C₆H₁₂O₆ | A six-carbon sugar with a ring structure, containing five hydroxyl groups and one oxygen in the ring. |
| Glycerine | C₃H₈O₃ | A three-carbon chain with three hydroxyl groups, one on each carbon. |
| Heptane | C₇H₁₆ | A seven-carbon straight-chain alkane. |
| Hexane | C₆H₁₄ | A six-carbon straight-chain alkane with each carbon bonded to hydrogens. |
| Hydraulic Oil Petroleum | Mixture (varies) | A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, typically long-chain alkanes and additives, used as a lubricant. |
| Hydrobromic Acid (20%) | HBr | A hydrogen atom bonded to a bromine atom, dissociates in water. |
| Hydrochloric Acid (10%) | HCl | A hydrogen atom bonded to a chlorine atom, dissociates in water, in 10% aqueous solution. |
| Hydrochloric Acid (20%) | HCl | A hydrogen atom bonded to a chlorine atom, dissociates in water. |
| Hydrochloric Acid (37%) | HCl | A hydrogen atom bonded to a chlorine atom, dissociates in water, in 37% aqueous solution. |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | HF | A hydrogen atom bonded to a fluorine atom, dissociates in water, highly reactive. |
| Hydrofluoric Acid (50%) | HF | A hydrogen atom bonded to a fluorine atom, dissociates in water. |
| Hydrogen Peroxide (10%) | H₂O₂ | Two oxygen atoms single-bonded, each bonded to a hydrogen, in 10% aqueous solution. |
| Hydrogen Peroxide (30%) | H₂O₂ | Two oxygen atoms single-bonded, each bonded to a hydrogen, in 30% aqueous solution. |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | H₂S | A bent molecule with a sulfur atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms. |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | C₃H₈O | A three-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group on the middle carbon. |
| Jet Fuel JP-4 | Mixture (C₈H₁₈ to C₁₆H₃₄) | A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily alkanes and aromatics, used as aviation fuel. |
| Jet Fuel JP-5 | Mixture (C₁₀H₂₂ to C₁₆H₃₄) | A complex mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily alkanes, with a higher flash point for naval aviation. |
| Kerosene | Mixture (C₉H₂₀ to C₁₆H₃₄) | A mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily alkanes, used as a fuel or solvent. |
| Lactic Acid | C₃H₆O₃ | A three-carbon chain with a carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group on the second carbon. |
| Methyl Alcohol | CH₄O | A single carbon bonded to a hydroxyl group and three hydrogens, also known as methanol. |
| Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) | CH₃OH | A single carbon bonded to a hydroxyl group and three hydrogens. |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | C₄H₈O | A four-carbon chain with a carbonyl group on the second carbon. |
| Methylene Chloride | CH₂Cl₂ | A tetrahedral molecule with a carbon bonded to two hydrogens and two chlorines. |
| Mineral Oil | Mixture (C₁₅H₃₂ to C₄₀H₈₂) | A mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons, primarily alkanes, used as a lubricant or laxative. |
| Naphtha | C₅–C₁₂ | Mixture of hydrocarbons. No single structure; similar to gasoline. |
| Neutral Salts | Varies | Ionic compounds with a cation and anion, e.g., sodium chloride forms a lattice. |
| Nitric Acid (5%) | HNO₃ | A nitrogen atom bonded to three oxygens (one double-bonded, two with hydroxyl groups). |
| Nitric Acid (10%) | HNO₃ | A nitrogen atom bonded to three oxygens (one double-bonded, two with hydroxyl groups), in 10% aqueous solution. |
| Nitrobenzene | C₆H₅NO₂ | A benzene ring with a nitro group (NO₂) attached. |
| Oleic Acid | C₁₈H₃₄O₂ | An 18-carbon chain with one double bond and a carboxyl group. |
| Oleum Spirit (25%) | H₂S₂O₇ | Disulfuric acid, with two sulfur atoms linked via an oxygen, each with hydroxyl and double-bonded oxygens. |
| Oxalic Acid | C₂H₂O₄ | Two carboxyl groups bonded together. |
| Perchloroethylene | C₂Cl₄ | A two-carbon molecule with a double bond and four chlorine atoms. |
| Phenol | C₆H₅OH | A benzene ring with a hydroxyl group attached. |
| Phosphoric Acid (10%) | H₃PO₄ | A phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygens (one double-bonded, three with hydroxyl groups), in 10% aqueous solution. |
| Phosphoric Acid (85%) | H₃PO₄ | A phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygens (one double-bonded, three with hydroxyl groups). |
| Potassium Dichromate | K₂Cr₂O₇ | Two potassium ions and a dichromate anion (two chromium atoms linked via oxygen). |
| Potassium Hydroxide | KOH | Ionic compound with potassium (K⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻). |
| Potassium Permanganate | KMnO₄ | A potassium ion and a permanganate anion (manganese bonded to four oxygens). |
| Salt Water | NaCl in H₂O | Sodium chloride dissociates into Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in water. |
| Skydrol | Mixture (e.g., C₁₂H₂₇O₄P) | A mixture of phosphate esters, such as trialkyl phosphates, used as a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid. |
| Sodium Cyanide | NaCN | Ionic compound with sodium (Na⁺) and cyanide (CN⁻, carbon triple-bonded to nitrogen). |
| Sodium Hydroxide (50%) | NaOH | Ionic compound with sodium (Na⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻). |
| Sodium Hydroxide (80%) | NaOH | Same as above, higher concentration. |
| Sodium Hypochlorite | NaOCl | Ionic compound with sodium (Na⁺) and hypochlorite (OCl⁻). |
| Sulfur Dioxide (Dry) | SO₂ | A bent molecule with sulfur double-bonded to two oxygens. |
| Sulfur Dioxide (Wet) | SO₂ in H₂O | Sulfur dioxide in water, forming sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃). |
| Sulfuric Acid (10%+) | H₂SO₄ | A sulfur atom bonded to four oxygens (two double-bonded, two with hydroxyl groups). |
| Tannic Acid | C₇₆H₅₂O₄₆ | A complex polyphenol with multiple gallic acid units linked to a glucose core. |
| Tartaric Acid | C₄H₆O₆ | A four-carbon chain with two carboxyl groups and two hydroxyl groups. |
| Toluene | C₇H₈ | A benzene ring with a methyl group attached. |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | CCl₃COOH | A carboxyl group bonded to a carbon with three chlorine atoms. |
| Trichloroethylene | C₂HCl₃ | A two-carbon molecule with a double bond, one hydrogen, and three chlorines. |
| Trisodium Phosphate | Na₃PO₄ | Three sodium ions and a phosphate anion (PO₄³⁻). |
| Varsol | Varies | Mixture of hydrocarbons, similar to naphtha or mineral spirits. No single structure. |