Comment: The way forward for 'recovered carbon black'

Jacob Peled of Pelmar Engineering provides some interesting viewpoints on the report titled 'Recovered carbon black making its mark' in the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of ERJ. The article was written by Dr Phillip Theden, chief executive officer if carbon clean tech AG:

I only recently had the opportunity to read the very interesting article of Dr. Philipp Theden in ERJ.

Let me start by stating that the term “recovered carbon black” is wrong to some extent.  The correct term is “char”.

The product derives from pyrolysis (thermolysis).  As Dr. Theden quoted it is a quality product that is composed from various substances, and is similar to carbon black only in its function as filler for rubber compounds as well as thermoplastic rubber compounds.

To analyse and justify their use of the product, I strongly suggest that every serious rubber compounder will acquire a modern microscopic dispersometer and start analyzing the dispersions of the compounds when using it for rubber mixing, in comparison to carbon blacks, chars or silica.

The cost of the dispersometer, although high, will be covered in a short period after the compounder will discover and will be able to compare the qualities of each substance.  We have run several tests using chars and actually have obtained better dispersion and even slightly shorter mixing time in some cases.

Dr. Theden should approach his customers offering as good or better filler, at a lower price and by the way, also helps greatly in maintaining sustainability and helping the environment.

In a presentation that I have made over 10 years ago, I have predicted pyrolysis to become the No. 2 tire recycling method after retreading.

What helped this to happen is, of course, the very high price of carbon black for many years.  I also wonder often about the similarity of prices by the main suppliers.

The feedstock for the carbon black manufacturer is the heaviest, dirtiest, unusable sludge of the refineries and the manufacturing process itself is so polluting and relatively simple.

The carbon black manufacturers, with the help of the rubber technicians, have brought the differences between types of carbon black to an art form.  This is, of course, a subject for another dissertation.

The fact that some of the carbon black manufacturers are in financial difficulties, in my opinion, derives from the fact that they have been used for so many years to “float on the cream, so when it turns up a bit sour and becomes yogurt, they drown”.

I believe that the char should certainly be directed towards the tire manufacturers, who are the largest users of carbon black and responsible for the pollution caused by scrap casings.

The absolute majority of the tire people are longing for substitutes and particularly pyrolysis derived fillers.

Jacob Peled, executive chairman, Pelmar Engineering Ltd, Ramat - Hasharon, Israel