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.