PIGMENTS | MATERIALS
conductive properties, and others are primarily looking at pigmentation, with dispersibility and colour tone as key properties. Orion’s latest for engineering plastic applica-
tions requiring high aesthetic quality is Printex chroma 500 Beads, which offers a balance of high jetness and dispersibility for a shiny, glossy finish, the company said. The company is working towards improved carbon footprint, and its new acetylene black plant in La Porte, Texas is expected to begin operations in early 2026. Thermally and electrically conductive additives produced in this plant will have only one-tenth of the carbon footprint of other commonly used materials, the company reported. Carbon black produced using the more traditional furnace black process can be made with renewable plant-based-oil, tyre pyrolysis oils and bio-circular feedstocks, the company added. BKT Carbon produces carbon black at its facility
in Bhuj, India, that has been used in tyres for its parent company, Balkrishna Industries. The com- pany introduced itself as a global specialty carbon black supplier at K2025, noting that it was extend- ing its offering to key markets with solutions for agricultural films, automotive components, wire and
cable, and others. The company plans to increase its annual production capacity in the next year. Black PP formulations often use carbon black for
coloration and UV protection. One ongoing chal- lenge, however, is ensuring long-term heat stability. Dominique Strässler, Global Market Segment Manager for Plastics at Cabot Corporation, said: “Conventional carbon blacks sometimes interfere with antioxidants – key additives that protect polymers from thermal degradation. These undesired interactions reduce the effectiveness of stabilisers, leading to premature aging, cracking, and loss of mechanical integrity.” Cabot’s Vulcan XTP50 specialty carbon black has
engineered surface characteristics with lower chemical reactivity, which can reduce disruptive interactions with antioxidants and enhance the thermal aging resistance of PP compounds. In stand- ardised VW44045 testing, compounds containing the specialty carbon black showed delayed onset of visual cracking and extended impact resistance after prolonged heat exposure, Strässler reported. He said that the approach of tuning the surface
characteristics of carbon black to optimise additive compatibility provides a technology platform that
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