Carbon black

For the climate forcing agent, see Black carbon. For the Carbon Black security company, see Carbon Black (company).
Carbon black
Names
Other names
  • Acetylene black
  • Channel black
  • Furnace black
  • Lamp black
  • Thermal black
  • C.I. Pigment Black 6
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.014.191 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 215-609-9
E number E152 (colours)
UNII
  • C
Properties
C
Molar mass 12.011 g·mol−1
Appearance Black solid
Density 1.8–2.1 g/cm3 (20 °C)[1]
Practically insoluble[1]
Hazards
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
> 15400 mg/kg (oral rat)[1]
3000 mg/kg (dermal, rabbit)[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Worker at carbon black plant, 1942

Carbon black (with subtypes acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black and thermal black) is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of coal tar, vegetable matter, or petroleum products, including fuel oil, fluid catalytic cracking tar, and ethylene cracking in a limited supply of air. Carbon black is a form of paracrystalline carbon that has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, albeit lower than that of activated carbon. It is dissimilar to soot in its much higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and significantly lower (negligible and non-bioavailable) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content.

Carbon black is used as a colorant and reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products; pigment and wear protection additive in plastics, paints, and ink pigment.[2] It is used in the EU as a food colorant when produced from vegetable matter (E153).

The current International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluation is that, "Carbon black is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)".[3] Short-term exposure to high concentrations of carbon black dust may produce discomfort to the upper respiratory tract through mechanical irritation.

  1. ^ a b c d Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  2. ^ "Market Study: Carbon Black". Ceresana. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  3. ^ Kuempel, Eileen D.; Sorahan, Tom (2010). "Identification of Research Needs to Resolve the Carcinogenicity of High-priority IARC Carcinogens" (PDF). Views and Expert Opinions of an IARC/NORA Expert Group Meeting, Lyon, France, 30 June – 2 July 2009. IARC Technical Publication No. 42. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. 42: 61–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2012.