Carbon black: Feedstocks
Why the dregs of a refinery make the best black
What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Carbon black is made from the heaviest, most aromatic oils: FCC decant oil (clarified slurry oil) from refineries, ethylene cracker bottoms and coal-tar distillates from coke ovens. Feedstock is about two-thirds of cost, and the oil-to-black yield depends on aromaticity. Producers with captive coal-tar (China, some Indian firms) or long-term refinery contracts and power export revenue are lowest cost.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | about 1.6-2.0 t per t (indicative) | carbon source | about 60-70% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| Kc Coking coal | similar to oil (indicative) | carbon source, common in China and India | as above | indicative |
| Gas Natural gas | small quantity for flame and start-up (indicative) | combustion fuel | about 5% (indicative) | indicative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Low cost: plants with cheap coal-tar or refinery residues and revenue from tail-gas power (PCBL runs 84 MW captive power). High cost: plants buying oil-indexed feedstock in Europe and North America, especially since US Gulf decant oil prices follow fuel oil.
Raw materials on the commodity table
Oil Crude oilKc Coking coalWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| RC Rubber chemicals | used together in tyre compounds |
| SBR Styrene-butadiene rubber | main tyre rubber compounded with carbon black |
| BR Polybutadiene rubber | tyre rubber |
| Pig Organic pigments | black pigment for inks and coatings |
| AAM Battery anode materials | conductive additives in electrodes |