A Tire Flat-Proving Elastomer with Improved Ride

Although recent developments in tire puncture-proofing media have overcome prior problems associated with durability, all such materials prejudice vehicle ride to some degree when compared with air inflation. This is particularly undesirable in many off-road applications where flat-proofing of low-pressure tires is a necessity.

This paper describes the development and performance characteristics of a new 5-Durometer elastomeric polymer system with significantly improved ride, as well as recent work investigating the protective mechanism of a so-called “champagne-bubble effect” in limiting heat build-up in recently-developed water-cured urethane tire fill systems.