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Designation: D 1765 – 00a

Standard Classification System for

Carbon Blacks Used in Rubber Products1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1765; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope Procedures for Mixing Standard Compounds and Prepar-

1.1 This classification system is used to classify rubber ing Standard Vulcanized Sheets2
grade carbon blacks by the use of a four-character nomencla- D 3191 Test Methods for Carbon Black in SBR (Styrene-
ture system. The first character gives some indication of the Butadiene Rubber)—Recipe and Evaluation Procedures2
influence of the carbon black on the rate of cure of a typical D 3192 Test Methods for Carbon Black Evaluation in NR
rubber compound containing the black. The second character (Natural Rubber)2
gives information on the average surface area of the carbon D 3265 Test Method for Carbon Black—Tint Strength2
black. The last two characters are assigned arbitrarily. D 3493 Test Method for Carbon Black—n-Dibutyl Phtha-
1.2 All rubber-grade carbon blacks for which a number is late Absorption Number of Compressed Sample2
currently assigned at the time of publication of this classifica- D 4820 Test Methods for Carbon Black—Surface Area by
tion system are listed in Table 1 together with some of their Multipoint B.E.T. Nitrogen Adsorption2
typical properties. D 5816 Test Methods for Carbon Black—External Surface
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the Area by Multipoint Nitrogen Adsorption2
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 3. Basis of Classification
only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1 The first character in the nomenclature system for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the rubber-grade carbon blacks is a letter indicating the effect of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the carbon black on the cure rate of a typical rubber compound
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- containing the black. The letter “N” is used to indicate a normal
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. curing rate typical of furnace blacks that have received no
special modification to alter their influence on the rate of cure
2. Referenced Documents of rubber. The letter “S” is used for channel blacks or for
2.1 ASTM Standards: furnace blacks that have been modified to effectively reduce
D 412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermo- the curing rate of rubber. Channel blacks characteristically
plastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension2 impart a slower rate of cure to rubber compounds. Thus, the
D 1508 Test Method for Carbon Black, Pelleted—Fines letter “S” designates a slow cure rate. Blacks may vary
Content2 considerably in “curing rate” within each of the two letter
D 1510 Test Method for Carbon Black—Iodine Adsorption classifications.
Number2 3.2 The second character in the system is a digit to designate
D 1513 Test Method for Carbon Black, Pelleted—Pour the average surface area of the carbon black as measured by
Density2 nitrogen surface area. The surface area range of the carbon
D 1514 Test Method for Carbon Black—Sieve Residue2 blacks has been divided into ten arbitrary groups, and each has
D 2084 Test Method for Rubber Property—Vulcanization been assigned a digit to describe that group. These groups are
Using Oscillating Disk Cure Meter2 as follows:
D 2414 Test Method for Carbon Black—n-Dibutyl Phtha- Average Nitrogen
Group No.
Surface Area, m2/g
late Absorption Number2 0 > 150
D 3053 Terminology Relating to Carbon Black2 1 121 to 150
D 3182 Practice for Rubber—Materials, Equipment, and 2 100 to 120
3 70 to 99
4 50 to 69
1 5 40 to 49
This classification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D24 on 6 33 to 39
Carbon Black and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D24.41 on Carbon 7 21 to 32
Black Nomenclature and Terminology. 8 11 to 20
Current edition approved August 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Origi- 9 0 to 10
nally published as D 1765 – 65 T. Last previous edition D 1765 – 00.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 1765
TABLE 1 Carbon Black Properties

NOTE 1—The iodine adsorption number and DBP number values represent target values. A target value is defined as an agreed upon value on which
producers center their production process and users center their specifications. All other properties shown are averages of typical values supplied by
several manufacturers. Typical properties are dependent upon the target values and may vary from producer to producer at the same iodine adsorption
and DBP absorption numbers because of the differences in processing equipment.
NOTE 2—IRB data was obtained from tests performed during the certification of IRB No. 6 carbon black.
NOTE 3—The cure rate of vulcanizates containing carbon black compounded by Test Methods D 3192 may be measured by Test Method D 2084.
Target ValuesA Typical Descriptive ValuesA

Iodine DBP No. Pour D StressC at 300 %

NSA Multipoint STSA Elongation, MPa(psi),
Adsorption No.,B DBP No. Compressed Tint Density,
ASTM D 4820, D 5816 cured at 145°C, D 412,
D 2414, Sample, Strength, D 1513,
Classification 103 m2/kg 103 m2/kg D 3182, and D 3192
D 1510, 10–5 m3/kg D 3493, D 3265 kg/m3
(m2/g) (m2/g)
g/kg 10–5 m3/kg (lb/ft3) 30 min
N110 145 113 97 127 115 123 345 (21.5) –3.2 (–470)
N115 160 113 97 134 124 123 345 (21.5) –3.1 (–440)
N120 122 114 99 126 113 129 345 (21.5) –0.4 (–60)
N121 121 132 111 122 114 119 320 (20.0) –0.1 (–10)
N125 117 104 89 122 121 125 370 (23.0) –2.6 (–380)
N134 142 127 103 143 137 131 320 (20.0) –1.5 (–210)
N135 151 135 117 141 ... 119 320 (20.0) –0.4 (–60)
S212 ... 85 82 120 107 115 415 (26.0) –6.4 (–930)
N220 121 114 98 119 106 116 355 (22.0) –2.0 (–280)
N231 121 92 86 111 107 120 400 (25.0) –4.6 (–670)
N234 120 125 102 119 112 123 320 (20.0) –0.1 (–10)
N293 145 100 88 122 111 120 380 (23.5) –5.2 (–750)
N299 108 124 104 104 97 113 335 (21.0) 0.7 (90)
S315 ... 79 77 89 86 117 425 (26.5) –6.4 (–930)
N326 82 72 68 78 76 111 455 (28.5) –3.6 (–530)
N330 82 102 88 78 75 104 380 (23.5) –0.6 (–80)
N335 92 110 94 85 85 110 345 (21.5) 0.2 (30)
N339 90 120 99 91 88 111 345 (21.5) 0.9 (140)
N343 92 130 104 96 92 112 320 (20.0) 1.4 (210)
N347 90 124 99 85 83 105 335 (21.0) 0.5 (70)
N351 68 120 95 71 70 100 345 (21.5) 1.1 (160)
N356 92 154 112 91 87 106 1.4 (200)
N358 84 150 108 80 78 98 305 (19.0) 2.3 (330)
N375 90 114 96 93 91 114 345 (21.5) 0.4 (60)
N539 43 111 81 39 38 ... 385 (24.0) –1.3 (–180)
N550 43 121 85 40 39 ... 360 (22.5) –0.6 (–90)
N582 100 180 114 80 ... 67 –1.8 (–260)
N630 36 78 62 32 32 ... 500 (31.0) –4.4 (–640)
N642 36 64 62 39 ... ... –5.4 (–780)
N650 36 122 84 36 35 ... 370 (23.0) –0.7 (–110)
N660 36 90 74 35 34 ... 440 (27.5) –2.3 (–330)
N683 35 133 85 36 34 ... 355 (22.0) –0.4 (–60)
N754 24 58 57 25 24 ... –6.6 (–960)
N762 27 65 59 29 28 ... 515 (32.0) –4.6 (–660)
N765 31 115 81 34 32 ... 370 (23.0) –0.3 (–40)
N772 30 65 59 32 30 ... 520 (32.5) –4.7 (–690)
N774 29 72 63 30 29 ... 490 (30.5) –3.8 (–550)
N787 30 80 70 32 32 ... 440 (27.5) –4.2 (–610)
N907 ... 34 ... 9 9 ... 640 (40.0) –9.4 (–1360)
N908 ... 34 ... 9 9 ... 355 (22.0) –10.2 (–1480)
N990 ... 43 37 8 8 ... 640 (40.0) –8.6 (–1250)
N991 ... 35 37 8 8 ... 355 (22.0) –10.2 (–1480)
A
See Note 1 above.
B
In general, Test Method D 1510 can be used to estimate the surface area of furnace blacks but not channel, oxidized, and thermal blacks.
C
D Stress = stress at 300 % elongation of test black minus the stress at 300 % elongation of IRB No. 7.
D
New numbers are marked to designate that the requestor has a one-year period, starting from the number’s approval date as shown in Footnote 1, to revise, by letter
ballot, target and typical values.

NOTE 1—Some of the carbon blacks in Table 1 were assigned prior to 4.2 Vulcanizates containing each of the standard grades of
the establishment of the surface area classification system and may fall carbon black shall have typical physical properties prescribed
outside of the specified ranges.
in Table 1.
3.3 The third and fourth characters in this system are 4.2.1 The 300 % stress values shown in Table 1 represent
arbitrarily assigned digits. the typical differences between the values obtained for the test
4. Typical Properties of Carbon Blacks black and those obtained for Industry Reference Black No. 7.
In practice, the black compounds shall be mixed and tested at
4.1 Each of the standard grades of carbon black shall have the same time using the formulation in Test Methods D 3192.
target and typical physical properties prescribed in Table 1.

2
 D 1765
NOTE 2—Industry Reference Black No. 73 is an N330 type carbon 5.2 Data to be submitted shall consist of typical values for
black prepared at one location,4 then evaluated by ASTM D 24 to insure the following:
uniformity. A large volume (225 000 kg (495 000 lb)) of this carbon black
Property Test Procedure
was prepared since it is used daily as a standard reference material by Nitrogen adsorption, multipoint NSA D 4820
carbon black producers. The carbon black has an iodine number of 83.0 DBP absorption number, D 3493
and DBP No. of 101.6. compressed sample
NOTE 3—For comparison of IRB No. 6 to IRB No. 7 per SBR-1500, see Tint strength D 3265
Table 2. Pour density D 1513
Stress at 300 % Elongation, 30 min. D 3192

TABLE 2 Comparison of IRB No. 6 to IRB No. 7 in SBR-1500 and target values for the following properties:
(Test Methods D 412 and D 3191 and Practice D 3182), MPa (psi) Property Test Procedure
IRB No. 6 IRB No. 7 D Iodine number D 1510
508 stress at 300 % elongation 16.9 (2450) 20.7 (3000) +3.8 (+550) DBP absorption number D 2414
508 tensile strength 27.1 (3930) 28.7 (4160) +1.6 (+230)
5.3 When the chairman of Subcommittee D24.41 receives a
request to assign a classification number to a new carbon black,
the following action is taken:
4.3 The properties enumerated shall be determined in ac-
5.3.1 Confirmation that the new carbon meets the scope of
cordance with the ASTM test methods shown in Table 1.
Committee D-24.
4.4 The following carbon black properties are not included
in Table 1 but do have previously established maximum values. 5.3.2 Confirmation that the new carbon is commercially
4.4.1 Sieve Residue— Test Method D 1514. Screen sizes available.
500 µm (No. 35), maximum 0.0010 %, and 45 µm (No. 325), 5.3.3 Establishment of the “N” or “S” first character assign-
maximum 0.10 % for all grades. ment and the second character (number) assignment based
4.4.2 Fines—Test Method D 1508. Screen size 125 µm (No. upon the data submitted with the request.
120). Maximum 7 % fines on bulk units for all grades except 5.3.4 Establishment of the third and fourth character (num-
thermal blacks. The 5-min fines test shall be used, and samples ber) assignments based upon the information from the re-
shall be taken from sample ports. questor. Without specific information from the requestor, these
4.5 The typical values shown in Table 1 are consensus characters are arbitrarily assigned by the chairman of Subcom-
values based on input from the various carbon black producers. mittee D 24.41.
Typical values often vary between suppliers; therefore, the 5.3.5 Target and typical values for a new standard, noted by
range of data used to define the typical values is shown in Table Footnote D in Table 1, are often based upon samples taken
A2.1. These ranges in no way should be viewed as being from a limited number of production runs. These table values
related to specification ranges. may change slightly when the sample results taken over a
longer period are pooled. The requestor of a new standard
5. Procedures for Classifying a New Carbon Black grade may pursue a revision of the table values by letter ballot
5.1 Data for classification of a new grade of carbon black during the first year of publication to utilize the additional
are to be submitted to ASTM Headquarters, to the attention of pooled data. Changes to the table after the first year of
the chairman of Subcommittee D24.41 on Carbon Black publication would normally require the assignment of a new
Nomenclature and Terminology. ASTM designation.

6. Keywords
3
Supporting data are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request RR: D24-
1005. 6.1 carbon black; classification of carbon blacks; industry
4
Available from Balentine Enterprises, 227 Somerset, Borger, TX 79007 U.S.A. reference blacks; typical properties of carbon black types

3
 D 1765

ANNEXES

(Mandatory Information)

A1. LISTING OF THE PROPERTIES OF INDUSTRY REFERENCE BLACKS

A1.1 The listing of properties for Industry Reference A1.3 The listing of the properties of IRB No. 7 is given in
Blacks (IRBs) is given in Table A1.1. This spans a period of 20 Table A1.2.
years. The absolute values for I2 number, DBP number, DBP
CS number, and tint strength are listed. Values for tensile stress
at 300 % elongation or “modulus” and tensile strength are TABLE A1.2
given in relation to the previous IRB as a “difference.” All of Property IRB No. 7
these represent average values as determined by testing pro- Tint Strength, D 3265, % ITRB 106.8
grams carried out prior to the dates listed for each reference Iodine Adsorption No., D 1510, g/kg (mg/g) 83.0
black. Since the purpose of an Industry Reference Black is the NSA, D 4820, 103 m2/kg (m2/g) 78.1
STSA, D 5816, 103 m2/kg (m2/g) 77.0
elimination of the major part of laboratory-to-laboratory varia- DBP No., D 2414, 10–5 m3/kg 101.6
tion, it is used as a reference material within each laboratory to DBP No. Compressed Sample, D 3493, 10–5 m3/kg 89.0
correct actual measured property values in that laboratory. Pour Density, D 1513, kg/m3(lb/ft3) 380 (23.8)
Ash Content, D 1506, % 0.27
Fines Content, D 1508, % 3.0
A1.2 The user of this table is cautioned against attempting Heating Loss, D 1509, % 0.3
to add the differences listed in the modulus and tensile strength Sieve Residue, D 1514, mg/kg (ppm) 27
columns to determine the relationship of two carbon blacks not Toluene Discoloration, D 1618, % 98.2
Mean Pellet Hardness, D 5230, mN (gf) 257.7 (26.3)
adjacent in time. Such an addition is likely to produce spurious Maximum Pellet Hardness, D 5230, mN (gf) 467.5 (47.7)
results due to additive errors.

TABLE A1.1 Industry Reference Blacks

Iodine DBP No. Difference from previous IRB, MPa (psi)
Date of Adsorption DBP No., Compressed Tint
IRB Lot Size, D 3192 D 3191
Producer ASTM No., D 2414, Sample, Strength,
No. lb
Acceptance D 1510, 10–5m3/kg D 3493, D 3265
g/kg 10–5m3/kg Modulus Tensile Modulus Tensile
A
1 Phillips 150 000 12/59 81 97 ... ... 15-min ... ... 35-min ... ...
30-min ... ... 50-min ... ...
2 Continental 200 000 6/65 82 92 83 ... 15-min –0.3 (–50) +1.9 (+275) 35-min ... ...
30-min –0.2 (–25) +1.2 (+175) 50-min ... ...
3 Ashland 300 000 6/69 84.8 99.9 87.8 100.0 15-min +0.7 (+100) –0.5 (–75) 35-min ... ...
30-min +0.5 (+75) –0.5 (–75) 50-min ... ...
4 Cabot 600 000 11/73 82.1 97.1 86.5 107.1 15- min +0.2 (+30) +0.9 (+130) 35-min ... ...
30-min +0.5 (+70) +0.8 (+110) 50-min ... ...
5 Columbian 500 000 12/79 81.9 102.1 89.6 101.5 15-min +1.2 (+170) 0.0 (0.0) 35-min +1.4 (+210) +0.1 (+20)
30-min +0.9 (+130) –0.6 (–90) 50-min +1.2 (+180) +0.2 (+30)
6 Huber 900 000 6/85 80.0 100.0 87.2 99.2 15-min –1.7 (–245) –0.9 (–130) 35-min –2.6 (–375) –1.5 (–220)
30-min –2.2 (–320) –0.9 (–130) 50-min –2.7 (–390) –1.2 (–175)
7 Sid 495 000 6/97 83.0 101.6 89.0 106.8 30-min +3.2 (+460) +1.5 (+220) 50-min +3.8 (+550) +1.6 (+230)
Richardson
A
Hand oil absorption.

A2. LISTING OF DATA RANGES USED TO DERIVE TYPICAL VALUES

A2.1 Although producers are encouraged to center their A2.2 Table A2.1 contains the range of mean values reported
process at the typical value level defined in Table 1, differences by each carbon black producer that were used to define the
in manufacturing technology and process conditions such as values in Table 1. These ranges in no way should be viewed as
reactor design, feedstock oil source, etc., exist. Consequently, being related to specification ranges.
any grade of carbon black produced at target values may
deviate from the documented typical value.

4
 D 1765
TABLE A2.1 Range of Data
DBP No.
NSA STSA Modulus
ASTM Compressed Tint Pour Density
103 m2/kg 103 m2/kg DIRB#7
Classification 10–5m3/kg %ITRB kg/m3
(m2/g) (m2/g) MPa
(cm3/100g)
N110 96–98 124–130 —A 122–124 335–353 –4.0 to –2.5
N115 96–98 127–138 —A 122–125 331–353 –3.5 to –2.6
N121 111–112 121–122 —A 118–121 312–321 –0.9 to 0.7
N125 —A —A —A —A —A —A
N134 102–105 140–146 —A 128–133 305–337 –1.9 to –1.0
N220 96–100 112–115 105–107 116–117 337–361 –2.3 to –1.4
N231 85–88 108–113 —A 119–121 379–417 —A
N234 100–103 116–121 109–114 120–124 307–337 –0.5 to 0.3
N299 —A 103–104 —A 112–115 336–345 —A
N326 68–69 77–80 74–78 110–113 446–470 –4.2 to –3.0
N330 85–89 76–80 74–76 103–105 370–393 –1.2 to –0.1
N339 96–101 89–92 85–89 110–112 328–353 0.8 to 1.2
N343 100–107 95–96 —A 111–114 310–326 1.1 to 1.7
N347 97–101 85–86 82–84 103–106 324–345 0.2 to 0.9
N351 95–97 70–72 68–71 99–101 332–353 0.8 to 1.3
N358 108–109 —A —A 98–99 345–350 —A
N375 95–98 91–95 90–91 114–115 377–385 0.3 to 0.6
N539 80–82 —A —A ... 353–369 –1.5 to –1.0
N550 83–87 39–41 38–40 ... —A –1.0 to 0.1
N650 81–86 33–38 32–36 ... 358–377 –1.0 to –0.2
N660 72–75 34–36 34–35 ... 432–458 –2.4 to –2.0
N683 80–88 34–37 33–35 ... 342–353 –0.8 to –0.1
N762 57–61 26–32 26–30 ... 490–530 –4.9 to –4.2
N772 58–60 31–32 30–31 ... 507–530 –4.8 to –4.6
N774 59–65 28–32 27–31 ... 469–514 –4.6 to –2.9
N990 36–37 7–9 6–9 ... 642–653 —A
N991 —A 7–9 7–9 ... —A —A
A
Either all values reported were the same or only one company submitted a value for this carbon black. Note: Carbon blacks with data from a single producer are not
included.

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