The Difference Between Rubber Casters and TPR Casters

Rubber casters: usually referring to natural rubber (NR) casters, with a focus on shock absorption, quietness, and grip.
TPR casters: It is an artificial synthetic material with a focus on wear resistance, environmental friendliness, and color diversity

The differences as below:

1. Essence of Material

1). Thermoplastic elastomer is a blend of plastic and rubber that can be melted and reshaped.

2). Vulcanized natural rubber is a thermosetting material that cannot be recycled or reshaped.

2. Environmental Friendliness

1). TPR: Excellent

2). NR: Bad

3. Wear Resistance

1). TPR: Good

2). NR: Moderate

4.  Elasticity and shock absorption

1). TPR: Good

2). NR: Excellent

5. Traction

1). TPR: Good

2). NR: Excellent

6. Floor protection

1). TPR: Excellent

2). NR: Evey bad

7. Weather resistance

1). TPR: Moderate

2). NR: Good

8. Chemical resistance

1). TPR: Water resistant, acid/alkali resistant, but not oil resistant.

2). NR: Very intolerant to oil, it will quickly swell and damage upon touching with oil.

TPR casters are like a versatile modern youth: they are environmentally friendly, beautiful, leave no marks, and have a balanced overall performance, making them a reliable and attractive choice in most daily situations. But it cannot beat natural rubber in the two core items of elasticity and grip.
Rubber (natural) casters are like an experienced master: they are a ceiling level presence in terms of shock absorption, quietness, and grip, and cannot be perfectly replaced to this day. The disadvantages are not oil resistant, leaving black marks, and not wear-resistant.