SILCA ULTIMATE TUBELESS SEALANT WITH FIBREFOAM
SILCA Ultimate Tubeless Sealant uses the power of a foaming latex formula combined with chopped carbon fibers to boost sealing power even at higher pressures. Ultimate Tubeless Sealant contains 5% by volume, 6, 9, and 12mm chopped carbon fibers which have been reclaimed from recycled bicycles, carbon wheels, race cars, and aircraft components. A unique foaming latex formula allows for the very lightweight carbon fibers to be evenly dispersed within the sealant while riding, which allows for a higher fiber content than possible with Kevlar or fiberglass.
At this high fiber loading, bundles of carbon fiber are carried directly to the puncture by the sealant flow where thousands of micro-bubbles collapse on each other, depositing their high stiffness carbon fibers over the hole. During this process, the carbon fibers form a dam of fibers against the tire casing not unlike a beaver dam of sticks blocking the flow of a stream. This dam of high stiffness/high strength fibers has been shown to seal holes in testing up to 7.5mm, some 25% larger than conventional technologies.
Since the beginning of tubeless tires for bicycles, sealant manufacturers have all been working along the same performance continuum. All sealants start as either a natural or synthetic latex rubber which is then thinned with a solvent of some sort as well as an anti-freeze agent (sometimes the solvent is also the anti-freeze agent). Many companies add particles to these mixtures that become lodged in the puncture to help slow the flow of sealant and to promote sealing. These particles have been everything from glitter, to microfiber, fiberglass, walnut shells, and even cornmeal.
When developing the formulas, manufacturers have always had to balance the same trade-offs… less solvent or anti-freeze results in sealants that can seal larger holes, also dry out much faster. Examples here are Orange Seal or Stan’s Race Day, these contain high latex / low solvent/anti-freeze percentages and high particulate loadings giving them the ability to seal holes up to 6mm. The downside, however, is that both of these need to be replenished or replaced every 4-6 weeks and as soon as 2 weeks in hot/dry conditions. On the other side of the coin, you have original Stan’s and Orange Seal Endurance, both of which contain higher percentages of solvent/anti-freeze allowing them to last much longer, 4-6 months inside the tire, but then are not as capable of sealing larger holes, in fact, the long-lasting formulas sacrifice up to 50% of puncture sealing ability!
- The sealing power of race specific formulas (6+mm holes) with the longevity of long-lasting formulas (120-180 days)
- FiberFoam® Technology uses a blend of 6mm, 9mm, and 12mm long carbon
fibers which are 400% stiffer than glass fibers with better dispersion
in the sealant to bridge punctures for faster sealing resulting in less air loss - Must be poured into tire during tire install! Ultimate Tubeless Sealant will plug any syringe or valve hole you try to pump it through!
- Effective down to 10°F / -12°C
- Ultimate Tubeless Sealant available in three sizes: 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz. Ultimate Tubeless Sealant Replenisher available in 4oz size
This is where the magic of carbon fiber comes into play. Having the highest stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratio of any sealant additive, the combination of very light carbon fibers combined with foaming technology guarantee excellent, even dispersion throughout the sealant so that they can very quickly be carried to a puncture when it occurs. The stiffness of these fibers means that they immediately begin bridging and damming the puncture as soon as it occurs, rapidly capturing subsequent fibers behind them as more sealant exits the hole. This rapid sealing effect means that punctures seal faster and with less air pressure loss.
