Carbon black pellets containing carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Carbon black is pelletized to minimize dusting and improve factory handling qualities. Carbon nanotubes are added during this pelletizing step to further allow a higher level of dispersion and exfoliation of the carbon nanotubes when, along with carbon black, is compounded in rubber. This concept is applicable to pelletization of all grades of carbon black with all classes of carbon nanotubes including single wall carbon nanotubes, multi wall carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanotubes of variable lengths from 25 nanometers (nm) to 500 microns (μm), and any carbon nanotube organic functionality. The use of carbon black as a carrier of carbon nanotubes will mitigate carbon nanotube dusting with safety benefits, maximize dispersion in a rubber compound with processing benefits, and facilitate full attainment of rubber compound material properties through the inclusion of carbon nanotubes for performance benefits.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.