Recovered carbon black in footwear sole compounds
A sole manufacturer trialled recovered carbon black to add recycled content without changing its moulding process.
The customer wanted to include recycled material in its sole compounds to meet brand sustainability requests, while keeping abrasion resistance, hardness and colour within its existing specification.
- 01Reviewed the existing compound and the role of carbon black in it
- 02Supplied a trial lot with test data for the customer's lab
- 03Ran lab mixes at stepped replacement levels against the standard compound
- 04Moved the best-performing mix to a production-line trial
| Parameter | Result |
|---|---|
| Hardness (Shore A) | Met agreed criteria |
| Abrasion loss | Met agreed criteria |
| Tensile strength and elongation | Met agreed criteria |
| Colour and surface finish | Met agreed criteria |
| Processing behaviour on the line | Met agreed criteria |
The partial-replacement compound met the customer's specification in lab and line trials and was approved for regular production of selected sole ranges.
Other applications
Conveyor BeltsRecycled filler for conveyor belt cover compounds
A belt maker evaluated recovered carbon black in cover compounds where abrasion and tear resistance are critical.
Automotive ComponentsRecovered carbon black in moulded automotive rubber parts
A component supplier qualified recovered carbon black for non-critical moulded parts to support its OEM's sustainability targets.
Paints & CoatingsPigment-grade recovered carbon black for industrial coatings
A coatings maker tested recovered carbon black as a black pigment in primer and industrial coating formulations.