Uses of Carbon Black

Carbon black is the most efficient reinforcing filler for rubber composites. Besides carbon black, silica and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) are conventional fillers used in the rubber industry. However, these do not give the same level of reinforcement when compared to carbon black of the same particle size.      Reinforcement of rubber with natural fibre has gained interest in recent times, due to its many advantages, such as its low density, non-abrasiveness, renewable and eco friendly nature. The basic components of natural fibres are cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. However, the main drawback of using these as reinforcements is the incompatibility of the hydrophilic natural fibre with the hydrophobic rubber matrix, leading to poor mechanical properties.

Reinforcing agent
Industrial carbon blacks are classic reinforcing fillers for rubber products, with approximately 90% of the world’s output used to improve tensile strength, abrasion/skid resistance and other physical properties. For example, a typical rubber compound for car tyres contains 35% carbon black content. The leading application for carbon black is as a reinforcing agent in the production of rubber goods, accounting for more than 90% of the consumption. In 2007, tyres accounted for 72% with other rubber goods, such as hoses and belts, 20% and non-rubber goods, such as plastics, inks and paints, taking up the remainder 8% of world consumption of carbon black.       Specialty carbon blacks accounted for only 8% of the total market in terms of tonnage but they command a significantly higher selling price than commodity furnace black and will, thus, be the focus area in the future.