Press release: Cabot launches new low PAH carbon black products

Boston, Massachusetts – Cabot Corporation has announced the launch of a new series of low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carbon black products for rubber product applications.

The Cabot LP carbon black series is engineered to meet customers’ requirements for end-use product performance while reducing the PAH concentration to help customers comply with new regulations and quality certifications.

The Cabot LP carbon black series is designed to provide customers with alternative reinforcing and semi-reinforcing carbon blacks for use in applications that require lower PAH content.

Actions have recently been taken by regulators in the European Union and by companies to reduce the concentration of PAH in rubber products including consumer goods such as sporting equipment, household items, tools, clothing, footwear, and accessories, as well as toys and childcare items.

Specifically the European Commission issued Regulation No 1272 limiting the content of eight PAHs in plastic or rubber parts. In addition, quality certifications such as the Geprüfte Sicherheit (GS) safety mark in Germany require a limited PAH content in certain consumer-based rubber products.

In response to these changing marketplace requirements for very low PAH, Cabot has developed a low PAH carbon black series to not only help customers comply with these new regulations, but also meet their stringent performance requirements for end-use products.

Carbon black for low PAH applications

The Cabot LP low PAH carbon black series features three products manufactured via Cabot’s quality control process to yield a consistent, very low level of PAHs. The series consists of one reinforcing and two semi-reinforcing carbon blacks, all of which are characterized by a controlled, very low PAH content:

• Spheron SO-LP carbon black - A semi-reinforcing carbon black with very high structure that is easy to disperse and provides excellent extrusion properties to rubber compounds. Spheron SO-LP carbon black is recommended for rubber compounds that require a very low PAH content and are currently based on standard ASTM N650, N683, N539 and N550 carbon blacks.

• Spheron 4000-LP carbon black - A semi-reinforcing carbon black with very low surface area and structure that offers excellent rubber compound flowability by imparting low viscosity even at high loadings. Spheron 4000-LP carbon black is the product of choice for replacing ASTM N762, N772 and N774 carbon blacks in very low PAH content applications.

• Vulcan 6-LP carbon black - A reinforcing carbon black recommended for rubber products that require a very low PAH and higher reinforcement, strength, abrasion and tearing resistance level than offered by semi-reinforcing carbon blacks. Vulcan 6-LP carbon black is recommended for rubber compounds that require a very low PAH content and are currently based on standard ASTM N220 carbon black.

“We understand that there are increasing challenges to produce low PAH rubber products. This new series of low PAH carbon black products delivers the same performance and functionality our customers have come to expect, while helping them comply with these new regulations,” said Shen Yi, vice president and global business director for Industrial Products, Cabot Reinforcement Materials.

“We strive to provide solutions that solve customers’ problems, and we have a deep understanding of the global industrial trends and challenges that they face today and in the future. With these new products, we are well positioned to serve our customers’ needs,” said Sean Keohane, executive vice president and president of reinforcement materials, Cabot Corporation.

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