Paint, Ink and Coating
20 June 2019
Carbon black is an essential industrial material with a wide range of applications, but it's often overlooked by the average consumer. Made through the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, carbon black is a fine black powder used extensively as a reinforcing agent, pigment, and conductive additive across multiple industries. Its utility, performance benefits, and widespread availability make it a cornerstone material in sectors like rubber manufacturing, plastics, inks, and electronics.
In this blog, we’ll explore what carbon black is, where it’s found, how it’s used, potential health concerns, and the regulatory framework that governs its safe handling.
Carbon black is not naturally occurring in the forms most commonly used in industry. Instead, it's manufactured in large volumes through processes such as:
Furnace Black Process – The most widely used industrial process for producing carbon black, particularly for rubber reinforcement.
Channel Black and Thermal Black – Older or specialized methods, used for fine pigments or non-rubber applications.
You’ll find carbon black in:
Tires and rubber goods
Packaging and plastic films
Printing inks, toners, and paints
Cables and electronics
Coatings and automotive parts
Carbon black plays many roles in modern manufacturing. Sectors that use the carbon black in their process include:
Around 90% of global carbon black production goes into rubber, particularly in automotive tires (Markets & Data, 2023).
It improves abrasion resistance, UV protection, and tensile strength, making tires more durable and long-lasting.
Also used in hoses, seals, belts, and rubber flooring.
Acts as a black pigment and UV stabilizer, particularly in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Prevents material degradation from sunlight exposure.
Common in outdoor pipes, agricultural films, and construction plastics.
Provides deep black color and gloss in inks, including those used in packaging and publication.
Helps control viscosity and flow properties in inks and coatings.
Used in conductive polymers for antistatic packaging and electronics housing.
Plays a role in battery electrodes and EMI shielding materials.
Key in high-performance applications like touchscreens and circuit boards.
Enhances color depth, UV resistance, and surface durability in industrial and architectural coatings.
Added to adhesives for improved thermal and mechanical properties.
Carbon black is often labeled in ingredient lists or product descriptions under different names, such as:
Pigment Black 7 (CI 77266)
Carbon Black 6
Acetylene Black or Furnace Black
To identify its presence:
Check Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or product specifications.
Look for labeling under GHS (Globally Harmonized System) or CAS numbers like 1333-86-4.
Common items that include carbon black: printer toner, synthetic soles, packaging films, and car interiors.
Although carbon black is not acutely toxic, prolonged exposure to its airborne particles can pose health risks, particularly in manufacturing environments.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), carbon black is classified as Group 2B – possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on inhalation studies in animals (IARC, 2010).
Potential hazards include:
Respiratory irritation
Lung inflammation from long-term exposure
Skin and eye irritation from direct contact
Dust explosion risk in confined environments
OSHA and other occupational health bodies recommend exposure limits of 3.5 mg/m³ for carbon black in workplace air.
Carbon black is subject to regulation across most industrialized markets. Key frameworks include:
OSHA (U.S.) – Mandates permissible exposure limits and labeling.
EU REACH – Requires detailed registration and safety data for handling.
GHS Compliance – Classifies carbon black for hazard communication (often labeled as a "combustible dust" and "suspected carcinogen").
Asia-Pacific – Countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan align closely with GHS standards for SDS and transportation.
These regulations mandate that manufacturers provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and appropriate labeling, particularly for transport and storage.
Manufacturers and end-users can take key steps to reduce exposure and environmental risk:
Engineering controls: Use local exhaust ventilation and dust collection systems in processing areas.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Equip workers with respirators, gloves, and goggles when handling bulk material.
Safe transport and storage: Store carbon black in sealed containers away from ignition sources; minimize airborne dust.
Compliance documentation: Request SDS and product certifications from suppliers to ensure proper handling.
Carbon black may appear simple, just black powder, but its industrial significance is massive. From making your car tires more durable to ensuring the clarity of printed packaging, it plays a critical role in countless applications. Understanding its uses, health risks, and regulatory landscape allows businesses to make safer, smarter sourcing and production decisions.
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2010). Carbon black, titanium dioxide, and talc (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 93). World Health Organization. https://publications.iarc.fr/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Carbon-Black-Titanium-Dioxide-And-Talc-2010
European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals. (2012). Carbon black evaluation IARC (2010). In Technical Report No. 122: Poorly Soluble Particles / Lung Overload. Retrieved from https://www.ecetoc.org/technical-report-122/human-data-including-epidemiology/existing-data-inclusive-epidemiology/carbon-black-evaluation-iarc-2010/
Markets & Data. (2023). Global carbon black market assessment, opportunities and forecast, 2016–2030F. https://www.marketsandata.com/industry-reports/carbon-black-market
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). (2024). Substance Information - Carbon Black. https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.014.189
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Carbon black. U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from http://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/236
New Jersey Department of Health. (2016, November). Right to know hazardous substance fact sheet: Carbon black (RTK Substance No. 0342). https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0342.pdf
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Permissible exposure limits – OSHA annotated table Z-1. U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from http://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels/table-z-1
Birla Carbon. (2017, October 19). Safety data sheet: Carbon black (NA-GHS RCB). Retrieved from https://www.birlacarbon.com/pdf/SDS/01_Rubber_Products_SDS/NA-GHS%20RCB%20ENGLISH%2019%20OCTOBER%202017.pdf
Cancarb Limited. (2025, March 31). Safety data sheet: Carbon black (Version 1.1/EU). Retrieved from https://cancarb.com/wp-content/uploads/Cancarb_SDS_English-EUROPE.pdf
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