# Carbon black: Feedstocks

Why the dregs of a refinery make the best black

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/feedstocks/

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](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | about 1.6-2.0 t per t (indicative) | carbon source | about 60-70% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| [Kc Coking coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/coking_coal/) | similar to oil (indicative) | carbon source, common in China and India | as above | indicative |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/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 oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)[Kc Coking coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/coking_coal/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [RC Rubber chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/rubber_chemicals/) | used together in tyre compounds |
| [SBR Styrene-butadiene rubber](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sbr/) | main tyre rubber compounded with carbon black |
| [BR Polybutadiene rubber](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/) | tyre rubber |
| [Pig Organic pigments](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pigments/) | black pigment for inks and coatings |
| [AAM Battery anode materials](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/anode_materials/) | conductive additives in electrodes |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/carbon_black/links/index.md)