Dow launches recyclable silicone self-sealing tire solution
Midland, MI – Dow announced its launch of the world’s first recyclable silicone self-sealing tire solution. The solution has been successfully utilized in Bridgestone’s newly released B-SEALS, a recyclable tire sealant technology. With its new SiLASTIC™ SST-2650 Self-sealing Silicone, Dow is meeting self-sealing tire manufacturers’ demands for high performance and sustainability, while providing drivers and passengers with a lighter-weight, safer, and more durable solution.
“Dow is dedicated to leveraging its long-standing expertise in materials science to improve manufacturer and customer experiences in mobility – and this includes the emerging technology of self-sealing tires, which provide enhanced safety, convenience, and weight-efficiency,” said Jeroen Bello, Global Marketing Director for Mobility and Transportation, Dow Consumer Solutions. “With a growing consumer and enterprise awareness of environmental protection, especially among customers of premium brands, we saw the demand for a more sustainable, higher-performing solution. Through our collaboration with Bridgestone, Dow has developed a new self-sealing silicone and successfully applied it to B-SEALS. Embracing the philosophy of Seek Together ™ and our commitment to sustainability, Dow is looking forward to working with more innovative partners to explore further possibilities of self-sealing tire solutions.”
With growing demands for material circularity and sustainability in the global automotive industry, self-sealing tires are becoming a new solution which enable lighter-weight vehicles. The new silicone sealant technology is designed to form a self-sealing layer on the inner surface of a tire. It provides outstanding sealing performance following puncture, allowing driving long distances without loss of tire pressure.
The sustainability attributes of conventional self-sealing tires is severely limited, resulting in non-recyclable tires, causing extra burden and inhibiting industrial sustainable development. In addition, the complex high temperature application process and need for extensive laser cleaning of the tire surface prior to coating increase energy consumption and environmental impact during production.
As a global leader in silicone technology, Dow leveraged its material expertise to develop SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone, which provides customers with a lighter-weight, safer, and more durable solution.
Unlike most of the conventional sealants on the market, SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone sealants can be separated from tires at the end of life, enabling further recyclability of both tires and silicone. Meanwhile, it also removes the need for spare tires, thus reducing vehicle weight, improving vehicle range and fuel efficiency, and enabling more design freedom. With Dow’s innovative technology, SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone is leading the industry’s transition to a more sustainable future.
Benefitting from the unique advantages of silicone materials, only a thin layer of silicone sealant is required to achieve puncture resistance, long-term stability and airtightness. Through Dow’s exclusive material technology, the sealant’s processability is enhanced with reduced cycle time and less processing costs. Tires using SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone sealants can be easily and quickly manufactured with standard equipment at room temperature without precleaning and pre-compounding.
With SiLASTIC™ Self-sealing Silicone, Dow continues to showcase its commitment to meeting the needs for low-carbon mobility through cutting-edge materials science technologies, and close collaboration with partners. Dow has implemented a companywide commitment to reduce its net annual carbon emissions. By 2030, Dow will reduce its net annual carbon emissions by 5 million metric tons versus its 2020 baseline, a 15 percent reduction. By 2050, Dow intends to achieve carbon neutrality (Scopes 1+2+3 plus product benefits).