The Timcal carbon black process has been developed around 1980 and is commercially exploited since 1982. The plant uses most modern technology. The process is based on partial oil oxidation of carbochemical and petrochemical origin. The major difference with other partial combustion carbon black technologies lies in the aerodynamic and thermodynamic conditions:

• low velocity;

• no quench;

• no additives.

This leads to a material with no or nearly no sieve residue on the 325 mesh sieve and allows the highest possible purity. The granulation process has been developed to achieve an homogeneously consistent product maintaining an outstanding dispersibility. It is in fact a free-flowing soft flake characterised by a homogeneous and very low crushing strength that guarantees the absence of bigger and harder agglomerates. The process enables the production of easily dispersible low surface area conductive carbon blacks as well as very high surface area conductive carbon blacks. The unique combination of high structure and low surface area also contributes to give outstanding dispersibility and smooth surface finish. The low surface area materials show a chain-like structure comparable to acetylene black. The very high surface area materials belong to the Extra Conductive (EC) family. Although ENSACO® Carbon Blacks are slightly more graphitic than furnace blacks, they are quite close to the latter ones as far as reinforcement is concerned. ENSACO® Carbon Blacks combine to a certain extent both the properties of furnace and acetylene black, reaching the optimal compromise.