Carbon Black

Introduction to Carbon Black

Carbon black stands as one of the earliest products crafted by humans. Its use traces back centuries, with the Chinese and Indians employing it as a pigment in ink. Its significance expanded significantly with the proliferation of the printing industry in the sixteenth century.

The term “Carbon Black” refers to a group of products comprising carbon atoms. It is distinct from ordinary soot, which consists of impure carbon. Carbon black is meticulously produced under controlled conditions, with over 97% of its composition being pure carbon. In contrast, soot is an unintentional byproduct.

Carbon Black is a material that garners attention not only within the carbon black industry but also piques the interest of researchers and scholars worldwide. This versatile product serves as a filler, impacting mechanical, electrical, and light-transmittance properties in the environments where it’s incorporated. As a result, it plays a pivotal role in shaping the characteristics of elastomers, plastics, inks, and rubber. For instance, it enhances ultraviolet ray protection in plastics, acts as an effective conductor in thermoplastic polymers, and, when employed as a filler in rubber, bolsters properties such as abrasion resistance, wear resistance, scratch resistance, and toughness.

Thanks to its distinct chemical composition, coloration properties, particle size, and colloidal attributes, carbon black enjoys widespread usage across various industries, with the rubber industry being a prominent beneficiary. It typically constitutes approximately 25-30% of the weight of rubber products. Beyond its role as a filler, carbon black contributes significantly to the strength and various properties of rubber. Following the rubber industry, the ink sector, especially in newspaper printing, paint, coatings, and plastics, constitutes another major application area.

In the realm of plastics and related products, carbon black is employed for coloration, protection against heat, safeguarding against degradation from ultraviolet radiation, modification of electrical properties, and reinforcement. It is occasionally utilized as a rejuvenating agent within the industry. Additionally, carbon black plays a pivotal role in shaping the characteristics of elastomers, plastics, inks, and rubber. Notably, in the tire industry, around 80% of the carbon black produced finds its application.

Carbon black can be classified based on the production process, the type of raw material used, the intended application, and the properties of the final product.

From a production process perspective, carbon black can be categorized into two main groups:

1. Carbon blacks produced through thermal decomposition.
2. Carbon blacks produced via incomplete combustion.

From an application standpoint, carbon black can be broadly categorized into two main groups:

1. Carbon black used in the rubber industry.
2. Carbon black intended for non-rubber industries, often referred to as “Special Carbon black.” This specific type of Carbon Black exhibits differences in terms of morphology and surface chemistry when compared to those used in the rubber industry.

This fine, soft material features a diameter ranging from approximately 100 to 1000 angstroms. Its composition typically includes around 88-99% carbon, 1-3% oxygen, and 0-1% hydrogen. The primary raw material for carbon black production primarily consists of aromatic hydrocarbon oils, which must possess specific characteristics and properties.

Applications of Carbon Black

Carbon black finds a wide array of applications as a filler, influencing mechanical, electrical, and light-transmittance properties when added to various environments. Consequently, it plays a pivotal role in shaping the properties of elastomers, plastics, inks, and rubber. For instance, it bolsters ultraviolet ray protection in plastics, acts as a proficient conductor in thermoplastic polymers, and, when used as a filler in rubber, enhances parameters like abrasion resistance, wear resistance, scratch resistance, and toughness.

Given its unique chemical composition, coloration properties, particle size, and colloidal attributes, carbon black enjoys extensive use in various industries, with the rubber industry being a primary beneficiary. Typically, it comprises around 25-30% of the weight of rubber. Beyond serving as a filler, carbon black imparts considerable strength to rubber due to its varied properties. Its most prevalent use, after the rubber industry, is found in the ink sector, especially in newspaper printing, paint, coatings and the plastic industry

Within the realm of plastics and associated products, carbon black is employed for coloration, heat protection, guarding against degradation caused by ultraviolet radiation, modification of electrical properties, and reinforcement. It is occasionally employed in the industry as a rejuvenating agent, playing a pivotal role in shaping the characteristics of elastomers, plastics, inks, and rubber. Particularly in the tire industry, approximately 80% of the produced carbon black is consumed.