Manhole cover manufacturers

What is the difference between a resin manhole cover and a cast iron manhole cover?There are differences between

What is the difference between a resin manhole cover and a cast iron manhole cover?
There are differences between resin manhole covers and cast iron manhole covers in many aspects. The following is a detailed introduction for you:
Material characteristics
Resin manhole covers:
Usually made of unsaturated polyester resin, glass fiber, etc. as the main raw materials, through certain processing. Its material has good plasticity and can be made into various shapes, patterns and colors. It is relatively beautiful in appearance and can be better integrated with the surrounding environment.
The resin itself is a polymer material with relatively stable chemical properties and strong acid and alkali corrosion resistance. It can show good durability in some environments with chemical media erosion (such as manhole cover installation near sewage treatment plants and chemical plants) and is not easily corroded and damaged.
Cast iron manhole cover:
The main material is cast iron, and common types include gray cast iron and ductile iron. The graphite in ductile iron manhole covers is spherical. Compared with gray cast iron, its mechanical properties are better, and its strength, toughness and impact resistance are very strong. It can withstand greater pressure and is suitable for roads with large traffic volume and high load requirements.
Cast iron is a metal material with inherent properties of metal, such as good thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, but this also makes it easy to rust in certain special environments (such as areas with corrosive media), and corresponding anti-corrosion treatment is required to extend its service life.
Physical properties
Strength and load-bearing capacity:
Resin manhole cover: The strength varies depending on the formula and process. Generally speaking, high-quality resin manhole covers can meet the load-bearing requirements of most conventional roads, communities and other places. For example, light and ordinary resin manhole covers can cope with the passage of pedestrians and small vehicles. However, compared with cast iron manhole covers, the upper limit of the overall load-bearing capacity is relatively low, and there may be a problem of insufficient strength when used on roads where super-heavy vehicles frequently pass.
Cast iron manhole covers: Especially ductile iron manhole covers, which have very high strength and outstanding load-bearing capacity. Heavy and super-heavy cast iron manhole covers can easily withstand vehicle loads of dozens or even hundreds of tons, so they are often used in areas with large traffic volume and heavy vehicle loads such as urban main roads, highways, and docks.
Weight:
Resin manhole cover: It is light, about one-third of the weight of the cast iron manhole cover of the same specification, which makes it more convenient to transport and install, and it is relatively easy to operate manually, which can save manpower and material costs, and the pressure on the well structure below the manhole cover is relatively small.
Cast iron manhole cover: It is relatively heavy. Although this helps the stability and displacement resistance of the manhole cover after installation, it often requires the use of mechanical equipment during transportation and installation, which increases the difficulty and cost of construction, and the excessive weight also places higher requirements on the well structure below.
Appearance and customizability
Resin manhole cover:
The appearance is more diverse. Since the resin material is easy to shape, it can not only produce a variety of exquisite patterns and designs, but also can be mixed with rich colors. For example, according to the style and landscape characteristics of different areas of the city, the manhole cover that matches the surrounding environment can be customized to play a certain beautification role. It is often used in some places with high landscape requirements, such as parks, scenic spots, residential areas, etc.
The shape can be flexibly designed according to actual needs. In addition to the common round and square shapes, it can also be made into special-shaped manhole covers to meet special installation needs.
Cast iron manhole cover:
The appearance is relatively simple and heavy, usually in the traditional round or square shape, with relatively few decorative elements such as surface patterns, and mainly focuses on reflecting its sturdy and durable functional characteristics.
Although it can also be modified to a certain extent, the flexibility of customization is not as good as that of resin manhole cover, and it is relatively limited in appearance changes due to factors such as cast iron casting process.
Anti-theft performance
Resin manhole cover: Generally, it does not have much recycling value, and criminals are less willing to steal. From this perspective, it has a certain natural anti-theft property. In addition, some resin manhole covers can be equipped with special anti-theft locks and other devices to further enhance the anti-theft ability and ensure the safety of facilities under the manhole cover.
Cast iron manhole cover: Since cast iron has a certain recycling value and is easy to become a target of theft, additional anti-theft measures need to be taken, such as anti-theft bolts, special locking devices, etc. Even so, there is still a risk of theft in some poorly managed areas.
Service life and maintenance cost
Resin manhole cover:
Under normal use and suitable environmental conditions (no long-term overload, corrosion environment within its tolerance range, etc.), the service life can range from several years to more than ten years. And daily maintenance is relatively simple, only routine cleaning is required, and checking for damage and deformation is required, and the maintenance cost is low.
If there are adverse factors such as extreme high temperature, strong ultraviolet radiation, or long-term overload, the resin material may age, fade, and lose strength, affecting the service life.
Cast iron manhole cover:
If anti-corrosion and other maintenance measures are taken, its service life can be very long, and it can be used normally for decades if the load capacity allows. However, if it is in a corrosive environment and is not well protected, the rust problem may gradually worsen, affecting its performance and appearance, and regular maintenance work such as rust removal and anti-corrosion treatment is required, which increases the maintenance cost.
Price
Resin manhole cover: The price range is relatively wide. Generally speaking, it is usually lower than the cast iron manhole cover, especially for some light and ordinary resin manhole covers that do not require high load capacity. It has more advantages in projects with limited budgets, but the price of high-performance and high-quality resin manhole covers may also be higher.
Cast iron manhole cover: The price is affected by factors such as cast iron material, craftsmanship and load-bearing capacity level. Generally, heavy-duty and extra-heavy-duty high-quality cast iron manhole covers are relatively expensive, especially ductile iron manhole covers, which usually cost more than ordinary resin manhole covers. However, they are still widely used in some critical places with extremely high requirements for load-bearing capacity due to their performance advantages.