ASTM International’s recovered carbon black (rCB) committee (D36) is advancing work on a new standard that could greatly improve production process monitoring and productivity for rCB manufacturers.

The proposed method, known as WK91069, is being developed within the committee’s recovered carbon black subcommittee (D36.10). According to ASTM member Pieter ter Haar, director of rCB at Circtec, the standard addresses one of the industry’s key challenges: long testing times.

“The method currently used, which has been adopted from ASTM’s carbon black committee (D24), results in a testing time that can take up to 18 hours,” explains Ter Haar. “This is very inconvenient for producers for whom this is an important quality parameter.”

By contrast, the new ASTM test could reduce the time required to only a few hours, enabling producers to adjust processes more quickly and reduce the risk of off-spec material. End-users will also benefit from faster and more accessible results.

Ter Haar noted that ASTM Committee D36 recently released the D8621 Standard Test Method for Recovered Carbon Black – Ash Content and that several other standards are under development to support the tire pyrolysis value chain. These efforts are expected to help further shape the rCB industry by ensuring consistent quality and broader market acceptance.

ASTM encourages participation in its standards development process. More information can be found at JOIN ASTM.