carbon black

American  

noun

1. any of various finely divided forms of amorphous carbon prepared by the partial combustion of hydrocarbons, as of natural gas, or by charring wood, bones, or other plant or animal tissues: used in pigments, as reinforcing agents in the manufacture of rubber products, and as clarifying or filtering agents.

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carbon black British  

noun

1. a black finely divided form of amorphous carbon produced by incomplete combustion of natural gas or petroleum: used to reinforce rubber and in the manufacture of pigments and ink

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Etymology

Origin of carbon black

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Manufacturers mix microscopic particles, usually carbon black, into rubber to make it tougher, longer-lasting, and more resistant to wear.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Led by engineering Professor David Simmons, the team uncovered how tiny carbon black particles transform soft rubber into a material capable of supporting massive loads, including fully loaded aircraft.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

It features 26 paintings, oil sketches and drawings, these last done in Conté crayon, a medium made from powdered graphite and carbon black that allowed deeper blacks and more expressive tonal contrasts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Steel and small amounts of oil are extracted, as well as carbon black - a powder or pellet that can be used in various industries.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

Ammu was made to send him back to their father, who had by then resigned his lonely tea- estate job in Assam and moved to Calcutta to work for a company that made carbon black.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy