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Why is carbon black known as the "hidden hero" of tires?
Carbon black, this seemingly inconspicuous substance plays an important role in our daily lives.
Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of coal tar, plant materials or petroleum products and includes various subtypes such as acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black and thermal black. Although carbon black has a lower surface area to volume ratio than activated carbon, its properties make it widely used in various industries, especially in tire manufacturing.
One of the main uses of carbon black is as a pigment and reinforcing filler for tires. About 70% of carbon black production is used in automobile tires. This is not only limited to strengthening the strength of tires, but also helps dissipate heat, reduce wear and improve tire service life. This means that the existence of carbon black directly affects the safety and economy of our travels.
The low cost of carbon black makes it a common additive for cathodes and anodes in lithium-ion batteries, making it a safe alternative to lithium metal.
In addition to tires, carbon black also has a place in many non-tire rubber products, including belts and hoses. In addition, the material is used in paints, inks and plastics as a pigment and wear-resistant additive. It is also not uncommon in the electronics industry, where it is used as a conductive additive to provide increased conductivity to various plastics and coatings.
Carbon black is widely used in plastics because it can effectively absorb ultraviolet rays and prevent material degradation. Its particles are also used in certain radar-absorbing materials, demonstrating their versatility. Of course, this also provides opportunities for its application in food packaging, as a food coloring (E153), making carbon black an indispensable ingredient in many consumer products.
As of 2015, global carbon black consumption is expected to reach 13.2 million metric tons, valued at US$13.7 billion, and is forecast to increase to 13.9 million metric tons, valued at US$14.4 billion, in 2016.
The application of carbon black in rubber products goes beyond providing color. It acts as a reinforcing filler, allowing the tire to resist wear and improve performance. In the aerospace industry, carbon black is also used to manufacture vibration control components for aircraft. This shows the necessity of carbon black as a reinforcing agent in high performance environments.
The production process of carbon black involves different chemical reactions, which makes its surface chemistry important. Research shows that the surface of carbon black generally contains various chemical groups, and these structures help enhance its performance in coatings and inks.
Carbon black is widely used around the world, but there is no lack of discussion about its safety and potential health risks.
According to an assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, carbon black is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. This has raised concerns about safety in work environments where carbon black is produced and used. Therefore, in factories that produce carbon black, strict safety regulations must be followed to ensure that workers do not inhale excessive amounts of carbon black dust.
With the advancement of science and technology, the monitoring and regulations of carbon black have been gradually upgraded to ensure that it will not cause harm to the environment and human health. This means that although carbon black occupies an important position in the market, its safety issues still require continued attention.
With the rapid development of the automotive industry today, carbon black will still be one of the key ingredients to improve product performance and safety. As the demand for sustainable materials increases, how to balance the application and environmental impact of carbon black will become the focus of future discussions.
Carbon black has a profound impact on our lives, but how to promote technological progress while taking into account human health and environmental safety is still a thought-provoking question?
