ASTM carbon black standard 'should be widely adopted'

The creation of an ASTM standard for carbon black is likely to lead to widespread adoption as the only framework of its kind in the world, it has been suggested.

George Joyce, manager of the Columbian Chemicals materials analysis laboratory, predicts that the newly published standard will be put into action worldwide relatively quickly.

"I anticipate global acceptance and utilisation of ASTM D7633 since it is the only applicable testing standard available for carbon content of carbon black products," he says.

Carbon black is a by-product of the combustion of heavy petroleum products including tars and has applications in plastic and rubber reinforcement.

The new framework was put forward by the US Environmental Protection Agency in order to support the carbon black industry in reporting its generation of greenhouse gases.

Mr Joyce serves as the chairman of the ASTM sub-committee D24.11, whose remit includes issues relating to carbon black structure.