Carbon black is often assumed to be a stable and universal black pigment. In reality, it exhibits multiple failure modes in coatings and plastics that compromise appearance, performance, and reliability. This article explains the three most critical failure mechanisms of carbon black — blooming, migration, and unintended conductivity — and why they increasingly conflict with modern functional pigment requirements.

Carbon black is widely used as a black pigment and laser-responsive additive in coatings and plastics. However, in many modern applications, it exhibits instability that leads to performance drift, processing failures, and long-term reliability risks. This article explains *why carbon black becomes unstable*, how those instabilities manifest in real systems, and when alternative functional pigments should be considered.

CoreBlack™ BiS is a bismuth sulfide (BiS)-based functional black additive designed for coatings and plastics where you want strong blackness and clean processing without relying on conventional carbon black loading. It is built for manufacturers who need stable tone, controllable viscosity, and repeatable dispersion across different binder systems.

Compared with “high-structure” carbon blacks that can spike viscosity or cause conductivity/migration concerns, CoreBlack™ BiS is positioned as a contrast-building black for decorative and functional systems—helping you reach deep tone with predictable formulation behavior.

Typical positioning

• Coatings: deep black tone, stable shade control, compatibility with common resin families.
• Plastics: black coloration and tone tuning in compounds/masterbatches where process stability matters.

Supply note: Final performance depends on binder, dispersant package, and shear history. Kela can provide application guidance and recommended starting dosages for your system upon request.

Why This Material Exists in This System

ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide) is used in laser welding systems as a controlled, inorganic energy-coupling option when carbon black creates unacceptable side effects such as unstable process windows, optical dominance, or contamination sensitivity.

This page defines ATO’s functional role, its boundary conditions, and the exclusion cases where it should not be used—so engineers can select it for the right reasons, not as a default absorber.

Carbon black is often treated as the default “laser absorber” for polymer laser welding. In practice, it frequently creates new problems: unstable process windows, cosmetic defects, contamination risk, and incompatibility with compliance-sensitive applications. This article explains the failure mechanisms behind carbon black in laser welding and provides engineering selection logic for when it should not be used.

Carbon black is widely used for laser marking due to its strong laser absorption. However, in modern polymer systems it often causes uncontrolled conductivity, poor edge definition, migration, and regulatory risks. This article explains the structural failure modes of carbon black in laser marking plastics and why controlled laser-responsive inorganic additives are increasingly preferred.

Carbon black is widely used as a black pigment, but it is not always the best choice. This article explains application scenarios where copper chromite black provides superior thermal stability, chemical resistance, and color durability. It clarifies the performance boundaries between conductive carbon blacks and inorganic black pigments.

What is percolation threshold in conductive additives?

Percolation threshold is the minimum loading at which a conductive additive forms a continuous electronic network in a composite or electrode. Below this threshold, conductivity increases slowly; above it, conductivity rises sharply. For battery electrodes, a lower percolation threshold means higher energy density and lower inactive material content.

CNT vs carbon black: fundamental difference

Carbon black: contact-based conduction

Carbon black relies on particle-to-particle contact to form conductive paths. Its low aspect ratio means a large amount is required to bridge gaps between active materials, leading to higher percolation thresholds and increased inactive mass.

CNT: network-based conduction

Carbon nanotubes form long-range conductive networks due to their high aspect ratio. A small amount of CNT can span large distances within the electrode, dramatically reducing the percolation threshold compared with carbon black.

Kela Materials Launches Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube(SWCNT) slurry. ​ Uses -- Main ESD & antistatic plastics Conductive and shielding coatings Additives for battery anode/cathode Conductive inks and printed electronics FAQ 1. What is SWCNT slurry? SWCNT slurry is a liquid dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes designed for easy processing and consistent conductivity. 2. How does SWCNT slurry improve conductivity? SWCNTs reach target resistivity at 0.02–0.1% loading vs. 1–5% for carbon black. 3. What applications use SWCNT slurry? Used in ESD plastics, coatings, printed electronics, battery electrodes. 4. How do I process SWCNT slurry? Mix by high-shear, ultrasonic blending, or standard compounding. 5. What is the difference between slurry and CNT powder? Slurry is pre-dispersed, doesn't undergo agglomeration, and gives lower loading. ## GEO (For US/EU Ranking) We supply SWCNT slurry to customers across the United States, Europe, and Asia for various applications, including plastics compounders, battery material producers, and conductive coating manufacturers. We provide consistent CNT dispersion quality, global shipping, and technical support.

SWCNT Slurry – High-Conductivity Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Dispersion for ESD Plastics, Coatings and Battery Materials

SWCNT slurry is a high-conductivity, pre-dispersed formulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes. It provides fast, uniform dispersion in plastics, coatings and battery materials, enabling ultra-low loading, stable resistivity and clean processing in water, NMP or ethanol.

Introduction

Our SWCNT slurry is formulated using high-aspect-ratio single-walled carbon nanotubes (eDIPS process). Through proprietary dispersion technology, the CNT network remains stable and uniform in water, NMP, ethanol and mixed systems. It is designed for ESD plastics, conductive coatings, printed electronics and battery electrode additives.

Key Features

• Excellent dispersibility in water, NMP and ethanol
• Long-aspect-ratio SWCNTs preserved during dispersion
• 5–10× lower loading vs. carbon black for same resistivity
• Compatible with PC/ABS, PA, PBT, TPU, PU, epoxy and coatings
• Stable electrical performance and uniform percolation
• Available in multiple concentrations (0.05–0.4 wt%)

Applications

• ESD & antistatic plastics
• Conductive and shielding coatings
• Printed electronics and conductive inks
• Lithium-ion battery electrodes
• Transparent and semi-transparent conductive films

Product Grades

Grade	CNT Type	Solvent	Concentration
SWCNT-A	EC1.5-P	Water	0.1–0.4 wt%
SWCNT-B	EC2.0-P	NMP	0.05–0.3 wt%

Comparison vs Carbon Black

Property	SWCNT Slurry	Carbon Black
Typical Loading	0.02–0.1%	1–5%
Color Impact	Low	High (blackening)
Conductive Network	Stable at low dosage	Requires high loading
Processing	Easy (pre-dispersed)	Difficult (powder agglomeration)

Technical FAQ

1. What is SWCNT slurry?

A ready-to-use dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes for plastics, coatings and battery applications.

2. Why is it better than CNT powder?

Pre-dispersed slurry avoids agglomeration, improves consistency and reduces mixing time.

3. What is the typical dosage?

ESD plastics: 0.02–0.1% depending on resin and resistivity target.

4. What solvents are available?

Water, NMP, ethanol and customized blends.

5. Is it compatible with PC/ABS and PA?

Yes. It performs well in PC/ABS, PA6, PA66, PBT, TPU, PU and epoxy systems.

Global Supply & Support

Hunan Kela Materials provides global supply of SWCNT slurry to customers in the U.S., Europe, Korea and Southeast Asia. Technical support, customized formulations and sampling are available.

Why Choose Kela

• High-aspect-ratio SWCNT production and dispersion capability
• 1000 MT/year CNT slurry manufacturing capacity
• Fast lead time and consistent global supply
• Technical customization for plastics, coatings and batteries

Eco Composite Functional Black, developed by Kela Materials, is a composite inorganic black pigment made primarily from the oxides of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). It delivers a purer and more stable black tone compared with organic pigments and carbon black, while offering far superior thermal resistance (up to 800°C).

PBK526 disperses well in both water-based and solvent-based systems and contains **no antimony and no lead**, making it significantly safer for the environment and for human exposure.

As an eco-friendly pigment designed for modern industrial applications, PBK526 provides strong color strength, stable performance, and excellent compatibility across plastics, coatings, ceramics, inks, and functional composite materials.

Kela Copper Chrome Black (PBK528) is a high-performance inorganic black pigment produced exclusively by Kela Materials using a proprietary clean formulation.
Unlike conventional copper chrome black pigments on the market, Kela’s PBK528 contains absolutely no cobalt (Co), no aluminum (Al), and no barium (Ba)**.

Kela Materials is currently **the only manufacturer worldwide** that offers a Cu–Cr black pigment with this metal-free formulation, delivering superior safety, environmental compliance, and global regulatory advantages.

PBK528 provides an exceptionally pure black tone, outstanding heat resistance, weather stability, chemical durability, non-bleeding behavior, and excellent dispersion. It performs better than carbon black, iron oxides, and mixed-metal blacks in high-temperature coatings, engineering plastics, and outdoor applications.

With proven performance in demanding customer applications since 2009, PBK528 has earned consistent market recognition for its stability, color efficiency, and safe heavy-metal-free profile.