Carbon black is a fine carbon material produced from hydrocarbon-based feedstocks.
When incorporated into rubber, it acts as a reinforcing filler. It changes the physical properties of the compound, making it better suited to the demands placed on a tyre.
It also helps with resistance to abrasion and heat, two factors that are unavoidable during driving.
There is another benefit: carbon black helps protect rubber from ultraviolet radiation, which can contribute to the deterioration of rubber over time.
The familiar black colour is therefore a visible side effect of an ingredient that has several important jobs inside the tyre.
