Carbon black, also known as lamp black, is a nearly pure form of elemental carbon (>97%), produced by the incomplete combustion of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons under controlled conditions, resulting in granules or fine powder with a high surface-to-volume ratio.
Currently ranking among the top 50 industrial chemical products manufactured worldwide, it finds widespread use as a pigment and filler in various applications including the production of printing inks, paints, plastics, rubbers, tattoo inks, among others. Its deep black color is due to its ability to absorb light across a wide range of wavelengths.
In addition to its pigmentation properties, carbon black is also utilized as a reinforcement in the rubber compounding industry, enhancing the strength and durability of final products, with up to 90% of this product directed towards the rubber industry.
One of the properties of carbon black is its excellent coverage of the material in which it is used, which in turn poses a challenge for the recycling value chain.
Recycling plants employ sorting methods based on Near-Infrared Radiation (NIR) techniques; optical sensors use light reflection to detect and classify materials, however, these sensors cannot properly identify or classify black plastic packaging due to the presence of carbon black.
This means that materials containing carbon black are “invisible” to NIR sensors, and consequently, these materials are incorrectly sent for incineration or landfill disposal.
Of course, HEIS GLOBAL works with dye suppliers who develop alternatives with sustainability aspects, including this issue.
There is a range of NIR or detectable blacks, free of carbon black, that allows proper material classification at the sorting stage in recycling plants, ensuring that black packaging is reintegrated into the value chain.
Furthermore, it is important to note that these new alternatives ensure packaging with all guarantees of food contact suitability, coloration, and functionality.
If you are looking to improve the sustainability of your product, HEIS GLOBAL can assist you in choosing the packaging that best suits your needs. Feel free to contact us, we will offer you various possibilities at different levels:
- Materials, offering various available material alternatives (BIO, RPET, PET, PP, etc.).
- Dyes, developing colors or additives that meet your needs (UV protection, RPET colors, NIR colors, etc.).
- Packaging: various options for pallets, packaging, shrink wrapping.
If you need more information, please contact us, we will be happy to assist you!
