Rubber Carbon Black
The largest volume of carbon black is used in rubber applications. It provides reinforcement and improves resilience, tear-strength, conductivity and other physical properties. Rubber carbon black are the most widely used and cost-effective rubber reinforcing agent in tire components, mechanical rubber goods, including industrial rubber goods, membrane roofing, automotive rubber parts and other rubber goods.
ASTM rubber grades can be divided into two categories: highly-reinforcing grades and semi-reinforcing grades. Highly-reinforcing grades are identified by ASTM numbers in the 100, 200 and 300 series. These materials are used in tire treads and mechanical rubber goods applications, where they offer good abrasion resistance directly related to tread wear. Semi-reinforcing grades are identified by ASTM numbers in the 500, 600 and 700 series. Semi-reinforcing carbon black is used in rubber components requiring low heat build-up during dynamic stress.
– Hard blacks (synonyms: tread grades, reinforcing carbon black): a type of furnace carbon black having an average nitrogen surface area of 70 m²/g or greater.
– Soft blacks (synonyms: carcass grades, semi-reinforcing carbon black): a type of furnace carbon black having a nitrogen surface area in the range of 21 to 69 m²/g.