Standardization News

ASTM International’s recovered carbon black (rCB) committee (D36) is developing a proposed standard that will guide users of rCB on how long the material can be stored and the effect that prolonged storage might have on rCB.

Recovered carbon black, material made from the remains of end-of-life tires, has applications in the tire, rubber goods, plastics, and pigment industries.

According to ASTM member Joe Hallett, the purpose of the proposed standard (WK73460) will be to provide a better understanding of the shelf life of rCB so that unnecessary disposal of good material may be avoided.

“Many substances have a ‘best before date’ that guides users when a substance loses some of its original performance or properties,” says Hallett. “This guidance does not prevent use after this date but informs users that extra checks may be required before use to ensure it is still suitable for their application.”

Hallett notes that the aim of the proposed standard will be to inform users of rCB that after 12 months, the material should be checked to see ensure it is still suitable for use.

Interested parties are invited to join in the development of WK73460. In particular, the committee is seeking data from users and producers indicating that the performance of their products is not affected by age.

This effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12 on responsible consumption and production.