Carbon black is a commercial product manufactured by thermal
decomposition, including detonation, or by incomplete combustion of carbon hydrogen compounds and
has a well-defined
morphology with a minimum content of tars or other extraneous materials. For historical reasons,
however, carbon black is popularly but incorrectly regarded as a form of
soot. In fact, in many languages, the same word is used to designate both materials. Carbon
black is manufactured under controlled conditions, whereas
soot is randomly formed. They can be distinguished on the basis of tar, ash content and
impurities. Attempts in the literature to create a general term, '
aciniform carbon', which would cover both carbon black and
soot, are not yet generally accepted.
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