1、 Basic characteristics and preparation process of white carbon black
Silica, as a general term for white amorphous silicic acid and silicate products, covers precipitated silica, fumed silica, ultrafine silica gel, aerogel and other forms. Its core chemical formula is SiO ₂ · nH ₂ O, and its surface hydroxyl groups endow it with high reactivity, while also possessing characteristics such as high temperature resistance, non flammability, and electrical insulation. According to the preparation process, white carbon black can be divided into two categories:


precipitated silica 
Sodium silicate and acids (such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid) are used as raw materials to form a precipitate through neutralization reaction, which is then washed, dried, and calcined to obtain the precipitate. This method has a lower cost, but the product purity (SiO ₂ content ≥ 90%) and particle size (20-40nm) are relatively crude, and it is commonly used for reinforcing general rubber products such as tires and shoes. For example, over 90% of white carbon black in China is used in the rubber industry, of which 60% is used in the footwear industry.
Fumed silica 
Using silicon tetrachloride as raw material, it reacts with hydrogen and oxygen at high temperature (1000-1800 ℃) to generate nano-sized silica particles (particle size 10-20nm), which are then aggregated, separated, and deacidification to obtain the final product. Its purity is as high as 99.8%, with a specific surface area of 100-400m ²/g, but the preparation cost is high, mainly used in high-end fields such as silicone rubber, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. For example, gas-phase white carbon black can increase the tensile strength of silicone rubber by 30% and the tear strength by 50%.
2、 Core application areas of white carbon black
Rubber Industry: Key Materials for Performance Improvement
White carbon black is the core reinforcing agent for rubber products, which can significantly improve the mechanical properties of vulcanized rubber. In the field of tires, white carbon black can reduce rolling resistance (reducing the rolling resistance coefficient from 6.5kg/t to below 5.0kg/t), improve wet grip (reducing braking distance by 8% -12% from 100-0km/h), thereby extending the range of new energy vehicles and enhancing driving safety. For example, Shanzhen Industrial has solved the problems of easy agglomeration and poor adaptability of traditional white carbon black through "material modification+formula optimization+process upgrading" technology, reducing tire rolling resistance by 15% and wetland braking distance by 10%.
Coatings and inks: a balance between functionality and environmental friendliness
Gas phase white carbon black, as a thickener and thixotropic agent, can prevent coating settling and control leveling, while improving coating hardness and wear resistance. In the field of ink, its flow control function can avoid printing blur. For example, in laser printer ink cartridges, gas-phase white carbon black can ensure uniform distribution of toner and improve printing clarity by 20%.
Medicine and cosmetics: dual guarantee of safety and functionality
In the field of medicine, white carbon black can be used as a carrier to improve the dissolution rate of drugs (such as increasing the dispersibility of oxytetracycline by 30%), or as an antibacterial agent to prepare antibacterial ceramic sanitary ware. In cosmetics, its "ball bearing effect" can soften the touch of the skin and prevent pigment from settling. It is widely used in lipstick, nail polish and other products.
Emerging fields: drivers of technological breakthroughs
In OLED display devices, white carbon black as a packaging material can extend the device's lifespan (from 10000 hours to over 50000 hours); In ceramic substrates, its composite technology can reduce sintering temperature (from 1400 ℃ to 1000 ℃) and improve material toughness (fracture toughness increased by 40%).
3、 Technological Challenges and Future Trends
Although white carbon black is widely used, its processing performance still needs to be optimized. For example, gas-phase white carbon black is prone to "structural effects" caused by surface hydroxyl groups, leading to the hardening of the mixed rubber, which needs to be solved by surface modification (such as hydroxyl silicone oil treatment) or adding active agents (such as diethanolamine). In addition, the adsorption effect of white carbon black and vulcanization accelerator may delay vulcanization, and the formula needs to be adjusted to balance process efficiency and product performance.


In the future, white carbon black will develop towards high dispersibility, refinement, and granulation. For example, the preparation of special precipitated silica by sol-gel method or reverse micellar micro lotion method can achieve controllable particle size (5-100nm) and surface functionalization to meet the needs of high-end fields such as 5G communications and new energy batteries. According to QYResearch's prediction, the global market size of white carbon black will reach 6.413 billion US dollars by 2025, and will exceed 9 billion US dollars by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%. The proportion of gas-phase white carbon black will increase to 40%.