Why Tires are Black?
Prior to forming the tire compound, the natural and synthetic rubber is milky white in color with first ever tire to be produced from natural rubber in 1895. Actually in the old times tires were actually delivered to the consumers in their original whit color, and there was no sight of black tyres. Gradually as weight bearing of tyres became an important factory in Tire manufacturing, the original rubber was not sufficient to reach requested specifications. With the advancement of technology and innovations over the past years, tires have undergone significant changes in production methods and still the tire manufacturing process is changing such as latest technology used by Volkswagen for its vehicles. The origin of tire evolution began with wooden wheels, then advancing to metal wheels and after a while, metal strips were placed on wooden wheels to make the wheels more stable and resistant;
To improve resistance and durability required from tires, as vehicle industry developed, tire manufacturers began adding new components such as carbon black to rubber compounds to extend longevity. Carbon black or soot is a transparent, light, very fine, black and powdery amorphous carbon.
Most of the structure of carbon black is made up of carbon element. The arrangement of carbon in this structure is based on small cluster particles (paracrystalline) with a very high surface to volume ratio. There are hydrogen and oxygen and less likely nitrogen and sulfur inside carbon black.
In years to follow a new compound of carbon black was produced, which increased the durability of the tire even further. Carbon black combined with certain polymers were compounded to create a material that significantly increases the hardness and resistance of the rubber. Nowadays this compound fills more than 30% of material weight used in Tyre Industry increasing Resistance, stability, Car Control creating the most desirable features for tire manufacturers and their customers, the drivers.
With use of Carbon Black and its coloring affect, the tires went from milky white to black colors which is now the common color of tires. On the other hand, the black color gave another advantage, they did not need to be cleaned so much as the white tire, while they match the black color of asphalt roads making tire a part of the road on the perspective.
to see more on carbon black please visit Carbon Black Product Page.
