Properties

Conductive carbon black is a material derived from furnace black, lamp black or thermal black. It possesses a highly branched graphitic structure that endows it with unique electrical conductivity properties. The conductive particles have average sizes ranging from 10-500 nm and specific surface areas of 30-1500 m2/g.

Due to its nano-sized structure, Conductive Carbon Black has a high external surface area and quantum mechanical charge delocalization. This allows electrons to move easily along its branched network, rendering it electrically conductive even at low concentrations in a polymer matrix. Its resistivity can range from 0.01-100 ohm-cm.

Its electrical conductivity can be optimized by controlling factors like particle size, shape, structure, surface chemistry and aggregation during production. Surface oxidation increases resistivity while graphitization via high temperature treatment enhances conductivity. The material displays percolation behavior where a network is formed above a critical concentration threshold in a matrix.

Applications in Electronics and EMI Shielding

The unique electrical properties of conductive carbon black have made it popular for applications in various electronic and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding products. It is widely used as a black pigment and conductivity additive for plastics.

In circuit boards, conductive carbon black enhances conductivity of adhesive films and isotropic conductive adhesives used for die bonding and interconnects. It provides an economical alternative to silver filler materials. For flexible circuits, carbon black loaded liquid adhesive inks are screen or gravure printed to form conductive traces.

As an additive in polymeric substrates, it enables applications like electrostatic dissipation, antistatic and conductive packaging. Conductive carbon black loaded plastic films, tapes and bags safely dissipate static charges accumulated during industrial processes. This prevents electrical hazards and damage to electronic components from electrostatic discharge.

Its high surface area and anisotropic shape imparts percolative conductivity even at low loadings of 1-5 wt%. Conductive plastics find use in housings for electronic devices, connectors, shields and EMI gaskets. They provide electromagnetic shielding effectiveness by absorbing or reflecting electromagnetic waves. This protects sensitive electronics from magnetic, electric and radio frequency interferences.

Use as Battery Electrodes and Supercapacitors

Besides electronics, conductive carbon black has potential in energy storage owing to its structural properties approaching that of graphene. It has been studied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Nano-sized carbon black acts as a host for lithium ions, enabling reversible intercalation/de-intercalation during charge/discharge. This redox process provides the energy storage mechanism in batteries. Its high surface area and randomly stacked graphene layers allow lithium ion and electron diffusion with good cycle life. However, capacity values are lower than graphite anodes due to absence of long-range order.

It has also attracted research interest for manufacturing supercapacitor electrodes. Supercapacitors bridge the gap between batteries and conventional capacitors by providing higher energy density than the latter with better power delivery than lithium-ion batteries.

Carbon black electrodes store charge via electrosorption of ions on their surfaces and interlayer spacing. The nano-porous structure coupled with high electrical conductivity enables rapid and reversible ion adsorption/desorption with capacitance values in the range of 100-250 F/g. Such supercapacitors find use in power backup solutions, hybrid electric vehicles and consumer electronics requiring instant power bursts.

Other Applications

Aside from the above, it has found uses in:

- Paints and coatings: As a pigment to impart opacity and conductivity for applications like antistatic flooring and paints.

- Rubber products: As a filler and reinforcement additive in tires, hoses, belts and seals to enhance mechanical, thermal and electrical properties.

- 3D printing filaments: To make electrically conductive composites for applications in sensors, electromagnetic shields and electronic devices fabricated via additive manufacturing.

- Textiles: To render fabrics antistatic for workers handling electronic components in industries like semiconductor fabrication.

Owing to its unique material attributes, conductive carbon black has emerged as a versatile nanomaterial for a broad spectrum of industries. Its electrical conductivity combined with properties like lightness, strength and durability enhances performance in products across fields as diverse as electronics, automotive, energy storage, chemicals and 3D printing. Further refinements in production technologies promise to expand its applications even more.

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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc.

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