Published on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Carbon Black — An Outlook for Opportunities
Introduction to Carbon Black
Carbon black results from partial or incomplete combustion or decomposition of aromatic oils, liquids, and gaseous hydrocarbons. Due to various preparation methods, carbon black is also widely recognized as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black, channel black, and thermal black.
Carbon black is a well-recognized commodity product in European markets. It is identified by EINECS 215-609-9 and CAS no 1333-86-4. Its main applications are in end-products that require color and tint properties, and reinforcement performance such as modulus and tensile strength.
The Value Chain
The key raw material for the manufacture of carbon black is carbon black feedstock (CBFS) or carbon black oil (CBO), procured from oil refineries or coal tar distillers. Manufacturing has been dominated by a few multinationals such as Degussa AG, Cabot Corp, and Columbian Chemicals Company, which hold 50 to 60 percent of global volumes.
Hurdles in the Market
The major hurdle for carbon black manufacturers is the emission of CO2 gas. Under the Kyoto Protocol, most countries have agreed to reduce their greenhouse emissions. The IARC has labeled carbon black a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B), though evidence has been inconclusive.
Growth Opportunities
Carbon black volume growth is directly related to growth in rubber end-product markets. With technology advancements, new end-application use is likely to be developed in addition to existing end uses. Power regeneration using tail-gas and greenhouse farming are examples already in place.
By Mahesh S Kumar