Highlighted Services: Carbon Black Testing

Carbon Black Particle Size Measurement
Particle size and its distribution are two of the most important properties of carbon black. The typical sizes of carbon black particles range from 15 nm to 300 nm. The particle size is important because it affects the blackness of the particles and governs the end use application. In general, the smaller the particle size, the higher the blackness. At MVA Scientific Consultants, we can measure the individual particle size of each carbon black particle and create a particle size distribution table.

Carbon Black Morphology and Structural Analysis
The morphology and structure of carbon black affect the blackness and dispersibility of the material. Generally, an increase in structure size improves dispersibility but lowers blackness. With a transmission electron microscope, MVA Scientific Consultants can provide data on aggregate size and morphology of carbon black particles and materials.

Carbon Black Impurity and Defect Analysis
Impurities and defects in carbon black may affect the quality and property of the material, ultimately causing a failure in the end use application. The most common carbon black impurities are catalyst residue, inorganic salts, metals, and rust. At MVA Scientific Consultants, we can use FTIR and SEM-EDS to identify different types of impurities in carbon black products.

Carbon Black Fugitive Emission Analysis
When suspicious black materials are deposited onto surfaces of cars, houses, and windows in a residential neighborhood, there are always questions of what it is, where did it come from, and who is responsible. In the worst case scenario, these black materials could be fugitive emissions which can potentially lead to a lawsuit.

MVA Scientific Consultants works with both plaintiffs and defendants to provide scientific evidence to support fugitive emission lawsuit cases. We can identify the primary components in deposited material, whether it’s soot, fungus, plant fragments, soil, minerals, or carbon black. In the case of ash and other unique materials, we can potentially identify and trace their origins.