INNOVATION | CARBON BLACK


Figure 1: SEM micrographs showing


dispersion of different high colour carbon blacks


Raven 2350 Ultra


Raven 2800 Ultra


Raven 3000 Ultra


Source: Farrel Pomini/ Birla Carbon


able characteristics, according to Birla. The com- pany says a high colour carbon black such as its Raven 3000 Ultra is capable of meeting these requirements when suitably compounded. “The small particle size is good for colour, tint, UV protection, but it is also difficult to disperse in plastics,” says Deepak Tandon, Global Segment Director—Plastics at the company. “As a result, it can be difficult to extract the full benefit of high surface area carbon black.”


Birla has been working together with Farrel


Pomini to better understand the role of CPeX compounding parameters on dispersion and colour performance of high-colour blacks in an engineering plastic (they chose a polycarbonate). “Our findings suggested that CPeX lead to excel- lent dispersion of high-colour black (Figure 1), and we can see the clear distinction in jetness of carbon black with different surface area or particle size (Figure 2),” the two companies say. “Desired quality and production rate can be achieved by changing different parameters. It was very interesting to find that the jetness values show linear relationship with specific energy input.”


US opportunities Indian company Himadri Speciality Chemical is looking to build a presence in the European and North America markets for specialty carbon blacks. It entered the North American market earlier this year. George Haines, formerly with Cabot but now Business Director North America for Himadri, says the region’s market has been tight for some time and is forecast to be a net importer of carbon black. He says the market also faces challenges around EPA requirements and feedstock volatility due to changing regulations.


“Himadri Speciality Chemical is engaged in an


exciting journey to bring the highest quality carbon blacks to the global market,” Haines says. “Cur- rently we produce 120,000 tonnes of carbon black in our facility in Kolkata. We have recently made investments in our line to produce both ASTM carbon blacks but also a few specialty blacks


38 COMPOUNDING WORLD | November 2019


Figure 2: Jetness of samples containing carbon blacks of different surface area (1% carbon black in PC). Samples prepared by compression moulding. Lower L values indicate higher jetness. Source: Farrel Pomini/Birla Carbon


targeted for high specialty rubber applications as well as for black masterbatch.” The company is close to completing an expan-


sion of its carbon black production, which will add a further 60,000 tonnes of capacity by the end of the year. “This expansion will reinforce our position in value added, high performing carbon blacks particularly in ‘clean’ specialty carbon blacks for high end rubber applications but also specialty applications such as plastics and coatings,” he says. Haines claims Himadri benefits from its back-


ward integration into feedstock. “That gives us an additional lever to develop high quality carbon blacks including application specific carbon blacks that can bring additional performance in terms of dispersion, filter life, and so on while still delivering on colour, conductivity or UV protection.” Also investing is Orion Engineered Carbons.


Henry Brooks, Vice President Americas for Specialty Carbon Blacks, says that over the past five years Orion has invested “significant” capital in North American and European specialty carbon black production units. “Demand for chemically clean,


www.compoundingworld.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86