Carbon Black (CI 77266 )

2. Organic vs. Inorganic

Everyday Use vs. Chemistry

The terms "organic" and "inorganic" can be a bit perplexing, as they can carry different meanings depending on the context. These terms are often associated with food, farming, and natural products in common parlance. In chemistry, however, they have a much more specific meaning. Let's delve into both contexts to gain a comprehensive understanding.

Everyday language: “Organic” is natural, without synthetic chemicals

In everyday language, the term "organic" generally refers to natural products produced without synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides or artificial fertilizers. For instance, organic fruits and vegetables are grown in a way that's considered to be more environmentally friendly. Similarly, "inorganic" is often used to describe items that are not natural or made from synthetic materials. For example, inorganic fertilizers contain synthesized nutrients and are not derived from natural materials.

Chemical perspective: “organic” is (C-H) bond

From a chemical standpoint, organic compounds primarily consist of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms, often along with other elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and more. Organic chemistry studies these organic compounds' structure, properties, and reactions. In contrast, inorganic compounds can contain various elements but usually don’t contain a carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond. There are exceptions, but generally, inorganic chemistry deals with substances that are not organic.

Typical confusion

The primary disconnect between these two perspectives lies in the complexity and composition of the molecules. For instance, in everyday language, "organic" often connotes something natural or environmentally friendly, while from a chemical viewpoint, it mainly refers to the structure of the molecules, regardless of whether they are found in nature or synthesized in a lab.

“Chemically organic” and “not organic” at the same time

Also, something can be chemically "organic" but not "organic" in food and farming if produced using synthetic chemicals. Conversely, a compound like water (H2O) is considered "inorganic" in chemistry but is, of course, a completely natural substance and can be absolutely “organic” in the everyday language sense.

Therefore, while the terms "organic" and "inorganic" may seem straightforward, their meanings can vary significantly depending on the context in which they're used. Regarding pigmentology, one way of seeing things is the chemical. The colorant inside the pigment is organic if it has the carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms (C-H). If it does not, it is inorganic.

3. Understanding CI 77266

Description and Composition

CI 77266, commonly known as Carbon Black, is an intensely black pigment known for its high covering power. Although it is an inorganic pigment, it behaves much like an organic pigment due to its small particle size.

Covering Power and Tint

CI 77266 is notably darker than black iron oxide. Its small molecular size contributes to its exceptional covering power, which makes it a desirable choice for applications requiring intense color. However, the pigment has a more excellent tint, which can lead it to discolor into grey shades over time.

Particle Size and Structure

The size and structure of CI 77266 particles vary depending on the production method. These variables directly impact the pigment's properties. Smaller particles offer more intense color and greater covering power. However, the smaller the particle size, the more difficult it becomes to achieve good dispersion, as small particles tend to cluster or coagulate. In contrast, pigments with larger molecular chains are more accessible to disperse but offer reduced covering power.

Behavior and Longevity

Carbon Black exhibits behaviors akin to organic pigments despite being inorganic. It has the smallest particle size among organic and inorganic pigments, contributing to its unique behavior. The pigment also boasts a high lightfastness rating, making it very resistant to fading. When used in tandem with Titanium Dioxide White, both pigments tend to outlast all others in the skin. As a result, they often leave behind an ashy or grey residual color, along with a nude-yellow shade, which is a trait commonly observed with organic-based pigment lines.

4. Three ways the CI 77266 is produced

Next, let us look more closely at the production methods of the CI 77266 pigment called “carbon black.” There are three: Channeling, Furnacing, and Thermal processing.

The "Channeling" Method - Smallest Particle Size, Most Bluish Color, High Oxygenic Content

The Channel method is a unique production technique in Carbon Black production, often identified by its pigment designation, CI 77266. Unlike other processes that use heavy aromatic oils or ethylene gas, the Channel method primarily utilizes crude oil vaporized with carrier gas as the feedstock. Channel steel serves as the contact surface for the flame in this method, giving rise to the specialized form of Carbon Black known as "channel black." Let's explore the particulars of this method

Initially, crude oil is vaporized and purified to remove any potential impurities that could impact the final product. This vaporized crude oil is then mixed with a carrier gas and introduced to a controlled flame environment, where channel steel acts as the flame's contact surface.

One distinguishing feature of channel black is its exceptionally fine particle size, finer than those produced by other methods like furnace black or thermal black. This is mainly due to the specific conditions set by the use of vaporized crude oil and channel steel. These fine particles have a high surface area and are particularly notable for their elevated levels of oxygen-containing functional groups, making the material more on the acidic side. This limits particle coalescence or clustering, which is less common in channel black compared to other types.

These oxygenic surface groups imbue channel black with specific, sought-after properties. For instance, when used in rubber applications, channel black can slow down the vulcanization process, affecting the curing or hardening of the rubber. Its properties also make it advantageous in polyolefins, where it enhances weather resistance, contributing to material durability. Furthermore, the unique surface characteristics of channel black offer excellent fluidity and performance in printing inks.

Carbon black produced by channeling is often referred to as “Black 6,” and it has the smallest particle size of all production methods: 90-100 nanometers. Thus, the color is the darkest, blackish, and bluish, and due to the very small particle size, it is practically opaque.

The Furnacing Method - Medium Particle Size, Anthracite Greenish Color

The Furnacing method is a highly sophisticated technique used for producing Carbon Black, also known by its pigment designation, CI 77266. This process primarily utilizes heavy aromatic oils, such as petroleum, as the main raw material. These oils are first purified to remove any contaminants and are then atomized in a specialized, closed reactor furnace.

Inside the furnace, a hot gas stream is generated by combusting a secondary feedstock, like natural gas or another type of oil. This hot gas stream is combined with a preheated air stream. The atomized primary feedstock is introduced into these streams, where it quickly vaporizes. Following vaporization, the feedstock undergoes pyrolysis, a phase in which it breaks down to form microscopic carbon particles.

To ensure optimal production, both temperature and pressure within the furnace are precisely controlled. Often, steam or water sprays are utilized to manage the reaction rate, as is common in most furnace reactors. The carbon black particles produced are conveyed through the reactor, cooled down, and collected in bag filters, all in a continuous process.

Alongside carbon black, this method also generates residual or tail gas, containing various gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Many plants repurpose a portion of this residual gas to produce heat, steam, or even electrical power, thus enhancing operational efficiency.

The Furnacing method is often dubbed as a "hybrid furnace" approach. The term 'hybrid' signifies that the furnace integrates a mix of technologies to create the optimal production environment. This may include different temperature zones or stages within the furnace, each specifically designed to fine-tune the properties of the Carbon Black being produced.

Carbon black produced by furnacing is often referred to as “Black 2” or “Base Black 2”, and it has the medium particle size of all production methods: 200-300 nanometers. The color is greenish and semi-opaque.

The Thermal Method - Largest Particle Size, Brownish Color, Minimal Aggregation

The Thermal method is one of the main techniques used for producing Carbon Black, commonly identified as pigment CI 77266. Contrary to some other methods that use heavy aromatic oils, the Thermal process primarily employs natural gas methane or higher-grade hydrocarbon oils as the feedstock material. This method stands out for its focus on burning gas under strictly controlled conditions. Let's delve into how the Thermal process works to produce this critical pigment.

Initially, the chosen feedstock, often natural gas methane, is purified to remove any impurities that could affect the final product's quality. Once cleaned, the feedstock is injected into a specialized, high-temperature reactor with an inert atmosphere. The absence of oxygen in this controlled environment is pivotal, ensuring that complete combustion is avoided. Here, the natural gas decomposes into Carbon Black and hydrogen, as a result of exposure to extreme heat.

It's essential to understand that the term "gas burning" in the context of the Thermal method actually refers to high-heat decomposition, not actual combustion. This is because the process takes place in an oxygen-free setting. The method relies on the heat to break down the feedstock molecules, allowing carbon particles to form.

Among all production methods, the Thermal process yields Carbon Black with the largest particle size - up to 500 nanometers - and among the lowest degrees of particle aggregation or structure. The color is also notably brownish and less opaque compared to other methods. Furthermore, this technique produces one of the purest forms of Carbon Black available on an industrial scale, as it's predominantly inorganic, comprising 99% inorganic material and just 1% organic components.

Carbon black produced by thermal is often referred to as “Black 7, and it has the largest particle size of all production methods: up to 500 nanometers. The color is brownish, the least opaque of the three.

Unpacking the “inorganic” inside the “organic.”

Pure Carbon and Carbon-Oxygen Bonds are Inorganic In chemistry, ”organic” refers to carbon compounds that also contain hydrogen, often in the form of hydrocarbons. In contrast, "inorganic" carbon compounds are those that do not contain hydrogen. For instance, pure elemental carbon, such as graphite or diamond, is considered inorganic because it consists only of carbon atoms and no hydrogen. Similarly, carbon compounds that bond with elements other than hydrogen, like oxygen in carbon dioxide, are also categorized as inorganic.

5. The Organic Nature of Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are considered "organic" because they are carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. These are the defining traits of organic chemistry, focusing primarily on carbon-hydrogen compounds. In this sense, only "hydrocarbon" fits the organic definition because of the presence of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.

Channel Black: A Hybrid of Organic and Inorganic Components

In the case of Channel Black, 19% of the composition is organic, and 81% is inorganic. As we can see, that does not mean that other components were making this up - it is still carbon! The difference lies just in the production method and, therefore, the forms of bonds.

The organic portion comes from aromatic hydrocarbons, which are complex carbon-hydrogen compounds. These hydrocarbons fall under the organic category. The remaining 81%, being elemental carbon in its free state, is considered inorganic. These components make Channel Black a hybrid pigment containing both organic and inorganic elements.

Furnace Black: Another "Hybrid" Example

Furnace Black consists of 55% organic hydrocarbons and 45% elemental carbon. Similar to Channel Black, the organic part is due to the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons, while the inorganic portion is pure elemental carbon. The balance of these two components affects the pigment's characteristics, like particle size and color intensity.

Many producers of Furnace Black refer to this as “purely organic” for marketing purposes. However, although it has the highest portion of “hydrocarbon,” it is still a mixture of elemental carbons and hydrocarbons with a considerable portion of elemental carbon in it.

Thermal Black: Why it's Predominantly Inorganic?

Thermal Black consists of 99% elemental carbon, making it highly inorganic. It contains a minuscule 1% of organic components. The dominant presence of elemental carbon classifies it as inorganic despite its particle size, which may cause it to behave similarly to organic pigments in some applications.

Observations Regarding the Powder Brows Procedure

When it comes to choosing a pigment for the powder brows procedure, thermal black (Black 7) stands out as the safest option among the three types. With its larger particle size, thermal black poses fewer risks of migrating through capillaries or sinking too deeply into the skin. When applied to the skin, these larger particles also impart a brownish undertone, making thermal black suitable for powdering and microblading techniques. Over time, the color remains relatively stable, fading into an anthracite shade. Additionally, its lower opacity ensures that it won't dominate the visual field, and its reflective quality gives the skin's powdered areas a brownish appearance.

6. What Black is in my "Carbon Black"?

Just perform the "water test"

Are you wondering which "carbon black" is in your pigment? The easier solution to find that out is to perform the "water test". While a "water test" won't give precise data about the pigment's long-term stability, it does offer a quick and simple way to differentiate between Black 6, Black 2, and Black 7. To perform the test, drop a small amount of pigment into a container of water without stirring it. The results show you easily and practically immediately what "black" is used in the pigment colorant.

Black 6 - "The Gas Black"

This type of black has very small particle sizes, which means it disperses in water almost like a powder, lightly coloring the water. That makes sense because, as we discussed in this article, it is essentially made of oil.

Black 2 -"The Oil Black"

This is semi-soluble in water and is easy to identify as it acts much like a drop of petroleum or oil in the water. It spreads out in all directions, and you won't see any individual particles. This behavior is a giveaway that you're dealing with Black 2. Explanation to that is very straightforward, too - it's made of oil and thus acts in a similar way.

Black 7 - "The Elemental Carbon"

This variant has larger particle sizes and often sinks to the bottom, similar to how minerals behave. As we discussed, this black is primarily made of 99% elemental carbon, which is organic, so it makes sense that it would act this way in water. In its essence, it is an organic substance with rather large particle size.

Comparing oil-derived and gas-derived Carbon Black

A drop of petroleum oil-like black substance spreading in water on the left, water colored with separate rather even-sized dust-like chunks of small black matter on the right, and an attractive woman in a blue t-shirt on the far right.

When Thermal Black (Black 7) is added to water, it's similar to mineral-based Black Iron Oxide: dense, sinking, and forming insoluble clumps. This is because it's a pure inorganic, elemental Carbon that won't dissolve.

Channel Black (Black 6), which has up to 20% organic components, disperses more evenly in water, creating a lighter color due to its smaller particle aggregates. In images comparing the two gas-derived Carbon blacks, Thermal Black shows larger, denser aggregates, while Channel Black provides a more even water coloration.

Furnace Black (Black 2) differs from both. Being oil-derived, it acts like petroleum oil in water: semi-soluble, oily, and spreading out in various directions.

7. Hydrocarbons and pH of skin

Why is Black 2 easier to implant than Black 6?

For that, we have to understand both the physical properties of the pigment colorants as well as their chemical consistency. The ease of implantation is very much related to how much the chemical properties of the pigment match with the environment where we implant it. Contrary to what you might think intuitively, the larger pigment particles of oil-based Furnace black (Black 2), with a size of 150-300 nm, are generally much easier to implant into the skin in just one pass compared to smaller particles of gas-based Channel black, that have the size of just 90-100 nm.

pH of skin and the C-H bonds

The explanation for this behavior lies in the chemical makeup of the pigment. Smaller particles often require more oxygen bonds to maintain their stability, which makes them less acidic. Since the pH level of the skin primarily involves hydrogen bonds, pigments with larger particle sizes that contain more hydrogen bonds - such as organic hydrocarbons - can integrate into the skin more easily. In fact, they can sometimes mesh too well, posing a risk of migration. Thus, as Black 2 has up to 55% hydrocarbons (C-H), it "sinks" into the skin much more easily despite its larger particle size than Black 6, which has just 19% hydrocarbons and is made up of a larger portion of elemental Carbon.

The danger of migration with Black 2

These larger particles have a chemical composition closely matching that of the skin, which makes it easier for them to enter capillaries and potentially migrate to other areas. Therefore, when selecting pigments for semi-permanent makeup, it's essential to consider both the chemical and physical properties of the pigment colorants to minimize risks like migration and to achieve optimal results. Understanding this, it is easy to understand why Black 2 is a bad choice for hairstroke technique and pixelating, as it will practically always blur inside the skin.

8. Conclusions

There's a common misconception that there's only one type of "carbon black" that falls strictly into the category of either "organic" or "inorganic." While it's true that carbon black is predominantly made up of carbon, the kind of bonds this carbon forms with other elements varies.

Carbon that is pure or "elemental," as well as carbon bonded with oxygen, is considered "inorganic." On the other hand, "hydrocarbon," which is carbon bonded with hydrogen, is labeled as "organic."

Three primary methods produce different types of carbon black, each with distinct properties.

Channeling. The end product is also known as "Black 6" or "Channel Black." It is made from crude oil and gas and has the smallest particle size, ranging from 90-100 nanometers. It comprises 19% organic hydrocarbons and 81% inorganic elemental carbon. The resulting color is a deep black with a bluish undertone. This type is light and does not "sink" into skin easily and is particularly well-suited for eyeliners and shading techniques.

Furnacing. The end product here is referred to as "Black 2," "Base Black 2," or "Furnace Black." It's created in a furnace oven primarily from oils like petroleum and has a medium particle size of 200-300 nanometers. It contains 55% organic hydrocarbons and 45% inorganic elemental carbon. The color is greenish-black, penetrating the skin fairly easily, making it suitable for eyeliner line techniques.

Thermal Processing. The end product is often called "Black 7" or "Thermal Black." This type is mainly made from ethylene gas and is considered to be carbon in its free state. It has the largest particle size, up to 500 nanometers, and comprises 1% organic and 99% inorganic elemental carbon. The color is brownish-black and it is harder to apply to the skin, making it ideal for eyebrow work and powdering techniques.

When one wants to know what kind of "Black" one has in their carbon black pigment, the best way is to perform a test in the water. Black 6 has light powdery particles that fill the water; Black 2 performs like petroleum oil with no particles visible, and Black 7 sinks like an organic mineral with larger particles visible (due to the fact of being organic).

When evaluating the implantation ease of different blacks, one has to take into account not only the particle size as a physical property but also the chemical formulation of the colorant. That is the reason why Black 2, with lots of C-H bonds, "sinks" into the skin better than Black 6, despite the larger particle size.

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