Sub-Product

Main Product: Carbon Black
Segment: Refined Products
Main-Family: Refinery Residues
Sub-Family: Coal & Petroleum Residues
Physical State: Solid

Sub-Product

Carbon Black

Alt. Names

Carbon Black (amorphous); Furnace Black; Acetylene Black; Channel black; Thermal black; Lamp Black; Gas Black

Description

The various production processes for obtaining Carbon Black have their advantages and each process is characterized by a certain product range. The key parameters, as shown in Table 1, provide an overview of the characteristic data for the main Carbon Black production processes.

Each process shows a characteristic primary particle diameter distribution curve. An electron microscope image of the individual Carbon Black type is used to determine the quantity and size of the primary particles, which then yields the number of specific diameter clusters.

Table 1 - Carbon Black variance for different production processes.

Process Type		Partial Oxidation			Thermal Decomposition
Carbon Black		Lamp Black	Gas Black	Furnace Black	Thermal Black	Acetylene Black
Nitrogen Surface Area^a	m²/g	16-24	90-500	15-450	6-15	approx. 65
Iodine Adsorption^b	mg/g	23-33	n.a.	15-450	6-10	approx. 100
Primary Particle Size	nm	110-120	10-30	10-80	120-500	32-42
OAN^c	ml/100g	100-120	n.a.	40-200	37-43	150-200
Jetness M_y^d	-	200-220	230-300	210-300	170-190	225
Tint Strength^e	%	20-35	90-150	50-160	approx. 20	n.a.
Volatile Matter^f	%	1-2.5	4-24	0.5-6	0.5-1.0	0.5-2.0
pH**^g	-	6-9	4-6	6-10	7-9	5-8*

* Pressureless process **Treated carbon blacks may have a pH value as low as 2.
a) ISO 4652/18852, ASTM D6556, DIN 6613. b) ISO 1304, ASTM D1510. c) ISO 4656, ASTM D2414. d) DIN 55979. e) ISO 5435, ASTM D3265. f) DIN 53552. g) ISO 787/9, ASTM D1512.

Fig. 1 shows the primary particle size distribution curve for each of the main production methods. Fine Carbon Blacks (Gas Blacks) for instance are clustered in a relatively narrow primary particle size range. Coarser Carbon Blacks exhibit flatter curves.

Figure 1 - Distribution curves for primary particle diameters