Cabot Launches New Series of Low Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) Carbon Black Products for Rubber Product Applications

June 29, 2015
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Cabot LP Carbon Black Series Helps Customers to Comply with New Regulatory Requirements for Low PAH

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 29, 2015-- Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) announced the launch of a new series of low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carbon black products for rubber product applications. The Cabot LP carbon black series is engineered to meet customers’ requirements for end-use product performance while reducing the PAH concentration to help customers comply with new regulations and quality certifications. The Cabot LP carbon black series is designed to provide customers with alternative reinforcing and semi-reinforcing carbon blacks for use in applications that require lower PAH content. Cabot will showcase these new products in Hall 12, booth 334 at Deutsche Kautschuk-Tagung DKT 2015, June 29 – July 2, 2015, in Nürnberg, Germany.

Actions have recently been taken by regulators in the European Union and by companies to reduce the concentration of PAH in rubber products including consumer goods such as sporting equipment, household items, tools, clothing, footwear, and accessories, as well as toys and childcare items. Specifically the European Commission issued Regulation No 1272 limiting the content of eight PAHs in plastic or rubber parts. In addition, quality certifications such as the Geprüfte Sicherheit (GS) safety mark in Germany require a limited PAH content in certain consumer-based rubber products.

In response to these changing marketplace requirements for very low PAH, Cabot has developed a low PAH carbon black series to not only help customers comply with these new regulations, but also meet their stringent performance requirements for end-use products.

Carbon black for low PAH applications

The Cabot LP low PAH carbon black series features three products manufactured via Cabot’s quality control process to yield a consistent, very low level of PAHs. The series consists of one reinforcing and two semi-reinforcing carbon blacks, all of which are characterized by a controlled, very low PAH content:

  • SPHERON® SO-LP carbon black - A semi-reinforcing carbon black with very high structure that is easy to disperse and provides excellent extrusion properties to rubber compounds. SPHERON® SO-LP carbon black is recommended for rubber compounds that require a very low PAH content and are currently based on standard ASTM N650, N683, N539 and N550 carbon blacks.
  • SPHERON® 4000-LP carbon black - A semi-reinforcing carbon black with very low surface area and structure that offers excellent rubber compound flowability by imparting low viscosity even at high loadings. SPHERON® 4000-LP carbon black is the product of choice for replacing ASTM N762, N772 and N774 carbon blacks in very low PAH content applications.
  • VULCAN® 6-LP carbon black - A reinforcing carbon black recommended for rubber products that require a very low PAH and higher reinforcement, strength, abrasion and tearing resistance level than offered by semi-reinforcing carbon blacks. VULCAN 6-LP carbon black is recommended for rubber compounds that require a very low PAH content and are currently based on standard ASTM N220 carbon black.

“We understand that there are increasing challenges to produce low PAH rubber products. This new series of low PAH carbon black products delivers the same performance and functionality our customers have come to expect, while helping them comply with these new regulations,” said Shen Yi, vice president and global business director for Industrial Products, Cabot Reinforcement Materials.

“We strive to provide solutions that solve customers’ problems, and we have a deep understanding of the global industrial trends and challenges that they face today and in the future. With these new products, we are well positioned to serve our customers’ needs,” said Sean Keohane, executive vice president and president of Reinforcement Materials, Cabot Corporation.

To learn more about additional low PAH carbon blacks in Cabot’s portfolio, including those for plastic applications, please visit our website at Low PAH Products for Plastic Applications.

ABOUT CABOT CARBON BLACKS FOR ELASTOMER REINFORCEMENT

Cabot is a global leader in the research, development, manufacturing and sale of carbon black for tires and automotive, construction and other industrial rubber products. Carbon black is the predominant reinforcing agent used to improve the processing, strength and durability of elastomers. Our broad portfolio of products includes reinforcing, semi-reinforcing, conductive, ultra-clean, and low-PAH products from the VULCAN®, STERLING®, REGAL®, SPHERON® and PROPEL™ families.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of rubber and specialty carbons, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, cesium formate drilling fluids, fumed silica, and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at: http://www.cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot's business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Source: Cabot Corporation

Cabot Corporation
Vanessa Craigie, 617-342-6015
Corporate Communications
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Jennifer Shearman, 617-342-6180
Global Marketing Manager