What are seats on wheels made of?

17th March 2020

	What are seats on wheels made of?
			Shop for Seats on Wheels
			Frame
			Steel The frames on most seats on wheels are made of steel to ensure they can support the user’s weight. Steel is an alloy created by adding carbon to iron. Steel is used for its strength, which is given by its alloy elements.

			Chrome plating Some seats on wheels are chrome plated to resist corrosion. Corrosion is when iron reacts with oxygen and forms a reddish-brown oxide that we know as rust. When steel corrodes, it deteriorates and eventually decays over time.

			Powder coating Sometimes, the frame is given a powder coating to protect it from rust, scratches and chips. The powder coating is usually applied as a dry coating, and provides a thicker coat than liquid coatings such as paint.

			Chrome plating and powder coating are both processes which apply a protective layer to a product. Chrome plating is used to give the seat on wheels added surface hardness and would provide the strongest protection. Powder coating would not be as strong as chrome plating but they are both tough enough to protect a seat on wheels.

			Seat
			High density foam Foam is a material that is formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid. High density foam is composed of a large amount of bubbles that are packed tightly together. High density foam tends to hold its shape, allowing it to return to its original shape after a weight is lifted from the surface of the foam.

			Polyurethane foam Polyurethane is a low density foam that is used to manufacture the seats for certain seats on wheels. The polyurethane used is flexible allowing it to be moulded to form the shape of the seat and also being semi-rigid to support the user’s weight. Low density describes an object and the low amount of matter (physical properties) packed into a certain amount of mass.

			Both high density foam and polyurethane foam are suitable materials for the seats on seats on wheels. They are both tough and are capable of providing a shaped and comfortable seat. The high density foam is the best quality foam used for the seats because it can take the weight of a user, mould the shape so it is comfortable for the user, then return to its original form. The polyurethane foam is suitable but not as tough as high density. It will take the shape and weight of the user, but will not always return to its original form.

			Polypropylene A number of seats on wheels are produced from polypropylene. Polypropylene is used as it is tough, flexible, and resists the effects of common solvents, oils and gasolines that are found when performing maintenance or working with vehicles.

			Vinyl Vinyl is a plastic consisting of polyvinyl chloride. Vinyl is often used to cover the seat as it is moisture-resistant, so any mess (e.g. spilt oil) can be removed easily.

			Castors
			Rubber Rubber is an elastic substance originally made from the latex of plants/trees. Some seats on wheels come with rubber castors. Rubber is used because it is waterproof, resilient, resistant to tearing as well as oils, solvents, and other chemicals.

			Tool trays
			PVC PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a very commonly used plastic. It is used for tool trays on certain seats on wheels because it is abrasion resistant, lightweight, and has excellent mechanical strength and toughness.