A bicycle inner tube made of a butane reistant grade of neoprene rubber.

This has two notable benefits:

1. The tyre can be inflated from a can of regular butane gas. No need for an air pump. Quick, cheap, effortless.

2. In the event of a puncture, simply re-inflate the tube with butane. Any leaks not immediately obvious can be quickly located with the aid of a naked flame.
-- 8th of 7, Mar 13 2013

Was expecting something like this... http://www.bing.com...first=0&FORM=NVPFVR
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 14 2013]

3. When the leak has been located, wait just long enough for the rubber around the leak to be softened in the heat, then pinch the leak shut. The fire goes out and the melted rubber seals the hole. [+]
-- lurch, Mar 13 2013


[Lurch] Both tire and tube are vulcanized, which means not so much on the melting.

[8th] Where are you that you have more ready access to butane than air or CO2?
-- MechE, Mar 13 2013


There's also the fact that butane will be liquid under most riding conditions (tire pressure and temperature), which will tend to increase your rolling weight and decrease the cushioning effect of pneumatic tires. Not generally considered a good thing.
-- MechE, Mar 14 2013


Is butane a liquid at normal bike tire pressures ?
-- FlyingToaster, Mar 14 2013


No, that's around 500psi from memory. Bike tires rarely go over 100.
-- bs0u0155, Mar 14 2013


Butane is a liquid at 32 F (0 C) and 14.9 PSIa. It remains a liquid at anything above above 60 PSIa all the way up to 120F (49 C). Riding a mountain bike or fat bike (low tire pressure) in very warm weather, it might remain a gas, but only then.

The 500 PSI is the critical point, at which gas and liquid are indistinguishable, but it isn't relevant to this discussion.

Source: NIST Chemisty webbook.
-- MechE, Mar 14 2013


OK, propane.
-- 8th of 7, Mar 14 2013


if propane's got the same problem, I suggest methane, after that I'm out of ideas, I'm at the end of my chain.....
-- bs0u0155, Mar 14 2013


Propane would work for mountain bikes except in extreme cold riding conditions, but would be a problem for road bikes.

Methane would work fine, but I'll stand by my original objection re: compressed purified methane vs compressed air or CO2.
-- MechE, Mar 14 2013


natural gas, every science lab and most kitchens...
-- bs0u0155, Mar 14 2013


Not significantly pressurized, which means a pump would be required, and up to 20% longer hydrocarbons that will end up liquid inside the tire.
-- MechE, Mar 14 2013



random, halfbakery