Carbon Black

Most of the carbon black used today is produced by the furnace process that is the primary topic in this report. Also discussed are the process modifications or the treatment of carbon black to give blacks that can replace channel, thermal, and acetylene blacks.

Although a substantial amount of information has been published about carbon black in the general and patent literature, much of the essential know-how has not been disclosed. Consequently, the development of correlations was necessary to provide a consistent basis for the design and evaluation of the furnace process for making the various grades of tread and carcass blacks. Because the amount of carbon black going to non-tire uses is less than 10%, no estimate has been made of the cost of producing those types of carbon black, although the technology of their manufacture is reviewed. The potential for using oxygen enrichment is evaluated on the basis of assumptions, because no firm data are available.

Because transportation of the feedstock or the end product has a bearing on plant location and on the price the customer must pay, some of the present and potential shipping means are discussed, and some rough estimates of costs are presented.

The properties of carbon black are reviewed. Although the effects of the properties of the black on the characteristics of the end use products (e.g., tires) properly belong in a study of the products, some discussion is included for orientation.