Specific conductive carbon blacks in plastics applications

New developments in knowledge of conductive carbon blacks and their conduction mechanisms have led to new plastics compounds. Conductive carbon blacks enable us to make polymers conductive at a 'low' or 'very low' loading, leading to better mechanical property retention. The 'in-mixture' dispersion and the resulting ultimate dispersion quality also influence the final properties. This study shows the impact of conductive carbon blacks (high structure, low and high surface area) on plastics performance, and especially on electrical properties. Some guidelines for compounding are also covered. This understanding gives rise to new applications and provides the tool to select the most appropriate carbon black to fit the application demand.