Carbon black [1333-86-4] is virtually pure elemental carbon (diamond and graphite are other forms of nearly pure carbon) in the form of near-spherical colloidal particles that are produced by incomplete combustion or thermal decomposition of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons. Its physical appearance is that of a black, finely divided pellet or powder, the latter sometimes small enough to be invisible to the naked eye. Its use in tires, rubber and plastic products, printing inks and coatings is related to the properties of specific surface area, particle size and structure, conductivity and color.
It is in the top 50 industrial chemicals manufactured worldwide, based on annual tonnage. Current worldwide production is about 15 billion pounds per year (6.81 million metric tons). Approximately 90% of carbon black is used in rubber applications, 9% as a pigment, and the remaining 1% as an essential ingredient in hundreds of diverse applications.
Modern carbon black products are direct descendants of early “lampblack”, first produced in China over 3500 years ago. These early lampblacks were not very pure and differed greatly in their chemical composition from current carbon blacks. Since the mid-1970s most carbon black has been produced by the oil furnace process, which is most often referred to as furnace black. Table 4.1 contains selected information on carbon black.
Unlike diamond and graphite, which are crystalline carbons, carbon black is an amorphous carbon composed of fused particles called aggregates. Properties, such as surface area, structure, aggregate diameter and mass differentiate the various carbon black grades.
Six types of carbon black are produced worldwide: acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, gas black, lamp black and thermal black. Specific physical and chemical properties of a carbon black grade are summarized on its material safety data sheet and the suppliers’ product technical bulletin.
Industrial Inorganic Pigments. Edited by G. Buxbaum and G. Pfaff Copyright © 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN: 3-527-30363-4
Chemical name |
Carbon Black |
Synonyms |
Acetylene Black, Channel Black, Furnace Black, Gas Black, Lamp Black, Thermal Black |
CAS name |
Carbon Black |
CAS registry number |
1333-86-4 |
Chemical (Molecular) Formula |
C |
Physical state |
Solid: powder or pellet |
Flammable Limits (vapor) |
LEL: not applicable UEL: not applicable |
Lower Limit for Explosion Minimum Ignition Temperature: |
50 g m-3 (carbon black in air) |
VDI 2263 (German), BAM Furnace |
>932°F(>500°C) |
Godbert-Greenwald Furnace |
>600 °F (>315 °C) |
Minimum Ignition Energy |
>10 J |
Burn Velocity: |
> 45 s: not classifiable as |
VDI 2263, ED Directive 84/449 |
“Highly Flammable” or “Easily Ignitable” |
Flammability Classification (OSHA) |
Combustible solid |
Solubility |
Water: insoluble Solvents: insoluble |
Color |
Black |
Tab.4.1: Information on and properties ofcarbon black [4.1]. |
4.1