Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- CI Name
- Chemical Name
- CASE Ingredients Functions
- Plastics & Elastomers Functions
- EC No.
- 232-421-2
- CAS No.
- 8021-99-6
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
- CASE Ingredients Features
- Materials Features
- Product Background
- One of the earliest forms of black tinting material known to man was the charred bones of animals remaining in their early cooking fires. As far back as 2650 B.C., bone char was used to paint the walls of Perneb’s tomb in Egypt. During the 18th dynasty at Thebes, bone char was ground and mixed with gum to create the first paints. Centuries later, as railroads moved west across the American plains, a major obstacle to their progress was the littering of bones on the prairies. With such a plentiful supply of raw material, the bone black industry flourished for many years as the sole source of true black pigments. The advent of the oil industry brought the world a new black pigment, carbon black, which at first was a throw away by product, then available for a nominal charge. Bone black was nearly forgotten except for a few applications. Oil shortages and rapid rise in oil by-products brought a decrease stock supplies of carbon black. But by this time, bone black had nearly been forgotten by industries using black tint. It had become "The Forgotten Black." It’s time for you to remember bone black.
- Bone black is a natural black pigment created by destructive distillation of animal bones in the absence of oxygen. Animal bones are carefully selected and prepared for calcination. Only fresh, hard bones free from extraneous material can be used. This is accomplished by boiling or rendering the bones to remove fat and oily residues. Once the bones are defatted, they are placed into hermetically sealed retorts in kilns, through which they pass slowly for 24 hours at a temperature of 800° to 900°C. This process of manufacturing leaves bone char which is the raw material for bone black pigment.
- A well-burned char has a firm physical structure, high porosity and white ash upon ignition. Each grain of char consists of a series of cavities connected by a great number of minute tubules and channels originally containing the nerves and blood vessels. The framework of this cellular structure consists primarily of tricalcium phosphate, which is entirely coated by a deposit of carbon in a state of very fine subdivisions.
- The subsequent pigment is created by crushing the bone char and screening it into various sizes, which range from 0.3 to 44 microns. These intermediary products are then custom blended to create a wide variety of shades which are suitable for many different applications.
- Product Highlights
- Bone black is not a competitor or a replacement for carbon black. In tint strength, carbon black is superior to bone black, however, bone black has a high loading capacity in it's favor. Along with this feature, bone black has many properties which make it unique. First and foremost, bone black is classified as non-hazardous and does not contain aromatic hydrocarbons which are considered to be carcinogenic. Because of this, bone black can be used for food-grade applications which meet the Food Chemical Codex.
- Secondly, bone black has a dull black, non-glossy finish with a very jet masstone. It retains consistent color from start to finish through the milling process. Milling time is cut because it doesn't require extensive ball milling to disperse. It actually disperses easily in aqueous or oil base vehicles because it does not float or flocculate and can be used in high speed dispersing equipment. In fact because bone black is not an oil by-product, it can be dispersed in water by stirring with a spoon.
- Another attractive aspect to bone black is that it does not overpower colors being toned. It actually makes an excellent toner for many colors, and allows for adjustments in tinting strength. Along with this, bone black is a non-migratory black, as well as being non-conductive.
- Other properties of bone black are its low vehicle absorption and heat stability. Bone black's low vehicle absorption allows for a high loading capacity. In some applications, loading capacity is 25% higher than carbon black, which tend to get gummy at high loading capacities. Also, bone black has a greater heat stability than black iron oxide and is comparable to carbon blacks.
- Again, bone black is not a replacement for carbon black, rather a special niche black used in applications where carbon blacks cannot be used. There are alternatives in the pigment industry, and with a little research and a slip back in time to discover the forgotten black.
- Product Benefits
- Superior masstone is really black, does not tend toward gray
- Greater jetness than any other tint material available
- Better coverage in nearly all applications
- Uniform particle size - air floated and fine screened
- Low energy dispersability
- Made to Ebonex Quality Standards
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Compatible Substrates & Surfaces
- Coating Type
- Industrial Additives End Use
- Plastics & Elastomers End Uses
- Application Areas
Applications of the substance as Dry Black Pigment in the following areas:
- Artist Color
- Artificial Leather & Vinyl
- Coated Paper & Board
- Dull Black Finish
- Linoleum
- Stains
- Plastics
Properties
- Color
- Odor
- Slight ammonia
- Miscible in
- Water
- Physico-Chemical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| pH | 8.2 - 8.7 | — | — |
| Specific Gravity | 2.6 | — | — |
Regulatory & Compliance
- Certifications & Compliance
- Compliance
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - In speaking with Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, the transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is still under investigation. Currently, the most accepted theory is that transmission occurs through a prion protein that has been genetically altered through an anomaly of chromosome #20. Bone charcoal and bone ash are derived from bones which are de-fatted, de-tallowed, and devoid of tissue. This leaves only bone material which is hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate. This material is then placed into retort kilns and burned at temperatures reaching 1000o C for 12 hours. This temperature will denature any protein, therefore the risk of BSE in these products are non-existent.
- Specified Risk Material Removed Certification - Bone Black Pigments are manufactured only from crushed cattle bones that are sourced from countries that are declared free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These countries are India, Pakistan and Nigeria. Prior to shipment, all the cattle bones have the Specified Risk Material (SRM) removed and all shipments used to manufacture the Bone Black Pigments have governmental documentation attesting to this.
- CONEG and Proposition 65 Requirements - In order to comply with the requirements mandated by the Coalition of New England Governors (CONEG), the State of New Jersey Community Right-to-Know Act, and California's Proposition 65 legislation, the Ebonex Corporation certifies that the Cosmic Bone Black pigment and charcoal it provides contains less than the total concentration of Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Lead and Mercury of 100ppm. The results measured by ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) shows Cadmium at 0.082ppm, Chromium (hex) at 0.290ppm, Lead at 2.305ppm, & Mercury at 0.050ppm
- Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) - The 1990 Clean Air Act directs the EPA to regulate emissions into the air of 189 toxic chemicals known as Hazardous Air Pollutants(HAPs) which are known or suspected carcinogens. Bone Black pigments are not contained on the list of Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) section 112(b)(1) set forth by the 1990 Clean Air Act.
- FDA - Bone Blacks are non-hazardous, and are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for indirect food contact applications provided they meet specifications under CFR 175.300(b)(1), CFR 174.5(d)(1), CFR 182.1217, and CFR 182.8217 set forth by the Food Chemical Codex.
- Workplace Classification - This product is considered non-hazardous under OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. This material is considered as “Generally Regarded as Safe” (GRAS) by the FDA.
- SARA Title 311/312 - This material is not a hazardous chemical
- SARA Title 313 - This material does not contain a chemical which is listed in Sec 313 at or above “del minimis” concentrations.
- CERCLA Information Release of this material to air, land or water are not reportable to the National Response Center under the Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or to state and local emergency planning committees under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act SARA Title III Section 304.
Technical Details & Test Data
- Comparison of Bone Black & Carbon Black
Bone Black Carbon Black Source: Charcoal animal bone, mill ground to size Black fumed from the ignition of petroleum products Particle Size: 3-15 microns Measured in angstroms Color
(Masstone):Very jet Low to very jet Tint Strength: Low compared to carbon (function of particle size) High compared to bone black Specific Gravity: 2.60 1.70 Oil Absorption: 0.55 ml linseed oil per gram of pigment 2.00 ml linseed oil per gram of pigment Dispersibility: Readily disperses in aqueous and oil based vehicles. Can be dispersed in high speed equipment. Wetting agents are required when used in aqueous formulas. Difficult to disperse. Requires 3 roll mill, ball mill, or sand mill for proper dispersion.
Safety & Health
- Precautions for Safe Handling
- Keep material from strong acids, as the material will decompose with contact.
- No special handling equipment necessary
Storage & Handling
- Conditions for Safe Storage
- Material can be stored at ambient temperature and low moisture.
- Keep material dry.