Punctures in a tyre can be sealed even as the car is running
a uk-based company has come up with Linseal -- a solution that will prevent flat tyres in motor vehicles. The system is effective in both tubeless and tubed pneumatic tyres. Linseal is a preventive sealant introduced through the valve of the tyre with no loss of pressure. Once applied, it remains within the tyre for the required duration. In the event of a puncture, it automatically seals it, reducing maintenance bills, the time spent on changing tyres, and the risk of running flat on a punctured tyre.
The sealant is a mixture of recycled rubber and thixotropic compounds -- gels that become fluid when shaken, reverting back to a gel when left to stand. They are less viscous than conventional fibre sealants. This makes Linseal much faster and simpler to use. And there is no risk of clogging the valve during application. Four large tractor tyres can be treated in about eight minutes.
Once the sealant is applied to a pneumatic tyre or inner-tube, it remains fluid within the wall, spreading over the inside of the area as the wheel revolves. In the case of a puncture, the escaping air forces Linseal into the hole and its thixotropic properties cause it to harden and seal the hole immediately with little loss of tyre pressure.
The rest of the sealant remains in a liquid form ready to seal the next puncture. It is effective for holes up to 10 mm in diameter, and one application of the compound has been shown to have sealed 30 maximum-size punctures in one tyre on a military vehicle and more than 100 holes caused by thorns in a tractor tyre.
In conventional fibre sealants, fibres blocking the hole can dry out, deflating the tyre. Linseal seals punctures in a more effective way and the tyre remains inflated until the end of its useful life. The product has no detrimental effect on the tyre structure, unlike temporary repair aerosol products. It is not harmful to skin, tyre or inner-tubes. In addition, it can be washed from the tyre with water, should a vulcanised repair be required.
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