ABSTRACT
Carbon black is used in plastics to alter key physical properties of the compound, which determines their applications in a given market segment. The characteristics of the carbon blacks used for each application are generally different. The most important applications of plastic-carbon black compounds are due to properties such as conductivity, color, aging and reinforcement. Carbon black is intrinsically a semi-conductor. Carbon black aggregates are on the average 10 nm or further apart in the low loading of the non-conductive range. The transition can be made sharper using blends of carbon blacks. Compounds for extruded dielectric power cables for distribution systems are one part of the conductive market for carbon black. The type of carbon black used and the performance requirements for the compound may be different for the strand shield compared to the insulation shield compound. Carbon black is widely used to impart anti-static properties to plastics compounds.
