Validation and TCO Development of Tire Sealant Gel Based on Recycled Tire Rubber

Brazil produces approximately 40 million tires annually and discards over 450,000 tons within the same period. Improper disposal turns tires into an environmental liability; each unit can take about 600 years to decompose in nature. This can cause environmental damage and contribute to disease proliferation by creating mosquito breeding grounds, including vectors for Dengue, Zika virus, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever. To mitigate these damages, Block Selantes was founded in 2018. The company utilizes discarded tires to produce automotive sealants that prevent punctures and tire wear. It is the only company globally to use recycled tires as a sustainable raw material for sealants, a process protected by an industrial patent, resulting in a unique product fully compatible with tire rubber. Additionally, using the sealant in automotive applications significantly enhances vehicle operation safety, reduces costs, and improves logistical efficiency. The use of recycled raw materials also reduces CO2 emissions and generates carbon credits for logistics operators. This paper details the tests and results obtained during the technical validation of the sealant when applied to commercial passenger and cargo vehicles.