Thermal Carbon Black

Thermal black is a type of Gas Black with the largest particle size in combination with the lowest surface and structure. Due to the fact that natural gas is the feedstock for thermal black, it is a very pure carbon black. The manufacturing of thermal black is a discontinuous or cyclic process handled by two reactors operating alternately in cycles. One reactor is heated with natural gas or an oil/air mixture while the other is fed with pure feedstock that undergoes thermal decomposition.

Thermal black has the largest particle size (avg. 260-300 nm) of any carbon black and has the lowest surface area (usually below 10 m2/g). In contrast, furnace black particle sizes are approximately three to twenty times smaller (meaning diameters of 18 – 80 nm).

The structure of Thermal Carbon Black N-990 and N-991 is measured by the dibutyl phthalate. DBP absorption measures the relative structure of carbon black by determining the amount of DBP a given mass of carbon black can absorb before reaching a specified viscous paste. Thermal blacks have the lowest DBPA numbers (32-47 ml/100g) of any carbon black, indicating very little particle aggregation or structure.

Unique properties provide benefits in applications like rubber, plastic, metallurgy and other special applications.

PentaCarbons’ portfolio includes 6 different Thermal Carbon Blacks:

  • Carbon Black N-990 with soft pellet hardness for easy dispersion
  • Carbon Black N-991 in powder version, for the use in low shear mixing systems
  • Thermal Carbon Black in fluffy and beaded form with low PAH content
  • Ultra Pure versions of N-990 and N-991 with extra high purity

Please contact us for an individual technical consultation or product recommendation.