The present invention relates to a particulate carbon material that can be produced from renewable raw materials, in particular from biomass containing lignin, comprising: a .sup.14C content that corresponds to that of the renewable raw materials, said content being preferably greater than 0.20 Bq/g carbon, especially preferably greater than 0.23 Bq/g carbon, but preferably less than 0.45 Bq/g carbon in each case; a carbon content in relation to the ash-free dry substance of between 60 ma. % and 80 ma. %; an STSA surface area of the primary particles of at least 5 m.sup.2/g and at most 200 m.sup.2/g; and an oil absorption value (OAN) of between 50 ml/100 g and 150 ml/100 g. The present invention also relates to a method for producing said carbon material and to the use thereof.

The present invention relates to a particulate carbon material that can be produced from renewable raw materials, in particular from biomass containing lignin, comprising: a .sup.14C content that corresponds to that of the renewable raw materials, said content being preferably greater than 0.20 Bq/g carbon, especially preferably greater than 0.23 Bq/g carbon, but preferably less than 0.45 Bq/g carbon in each case; a carbon content in relation to the ash-free dry substance of between 60 ma. % and 80 ma. %; an STSA surface area of the primary particles of at least 5 m.sup.2/g and at most 200 m.sup.2/g; and an oil absorption value (OAN) of between 50 ml/100 g and 150 ml/100 g. The present invention also relates to a method for producing said carbon material and to the use thereof.

Carbon blacks such as reinforcing-grade carbon blacks with high structure are described. The carbon black can have the following properties: a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) ranging from 80 m.sup.2/g to 150 m.sup.2/g, an oil absorption number (OAN) of at least 180 mL/100 g, and a crushed oil absorption number (COAN) of at least 110 mL/100 g. Rubber compounds which incorporate the carbon black also are described.

Carbon blacks such as reinforcing-grade carbon blacks with high structure are described. The carbon black can have the following properties: a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) ranging from 80 m.sup.2/g to 150 m.sup.2/g, an oil absorption number (OAN) of at least 180 mL/100 g, and a crushed oil absorption number (COAN) of at least 110 mL/100 g. Rubber compounds which incorporate the carbon black also are described.

One or more techniques are disclosed for a method for functionalized a graphitic material comprising the steps of: 1) providing a graphitic material; 2) providing a first molecule comprising a first group, a spacer, and a second group; 3) providing a second molecule comprising a third group, a spacer, and a fourth group, wherein the third group is a different group from the first group; and 4) bonding the first molecule and the second molecule to the graphitic material. Also disclosed is a tunable material composition comprising the functionalized carbon nanotubes or functionalized graphene prepared by the methods described herein.

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary cell negative-electrode carbon material by heat-treating carbon particles while causing the carbon particles to flow within a heat-treatment furnace, the apparatus for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery negative-electrode carbon material having: a heat-treatment furnace provided with a carbon-particle supply opening for supplying the carbon particles into the interior, and a negative-electrode carbon material recovery opening for taking out the negative-electrode carbon material from the interior; and a cooling tank connected in an airtight manner to the negative-electrode carbon material recovery opening of the heat-treatment furnace, and provided with a cooling means. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery negative-electrode carbon material by using the apparatus.

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary cell negative-electrode carbon material by heat-treating carbon particles while causing the carbon particles to flow within a heat-treatment furnace, the apparatus for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery negative-electrode carbon material having: a heat-treatment furnace provided with a carbon-particle supply opening for supplying the carbon particles into the interior, and a negative-electrode carbon material recovery opening for taking out the negative-electrode carbon material from the interior; and a cooling tank connected in an airtight manner to the negative-electrode carbon material recovery opening of the heat-treatment furnace, and provided with a cooling means. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery negative-electrode carbon material by using the apparatus.

A method for manufacturing an aqueous black pigment dispersion, including the steps of subjecting a mixture containing carbon black and an aqueous medium to media-less dispersion and adding a resin having anionic groups and a basic compound after the dispersion, wherein the carbon black has a carboxylic acid group on the surface such that the value produced by dividing the amount of carboxylic acid group present on the surface by BET value is 0.8 to 5.5 (mol/m.sup.2) and the resin having anionic groups is an urethane resin that satisfies (weight average molecular weight/acid value)<1,400 or a styrene acrylic resin that satisfies (weight average molecular weight/acid value)<120.

A method for manufacturing an aqueous black pigment dispersion, including the steps of subjecting a mixture containing carbon black and an aqueous medium to media-less dispersion and adding a resin having anionic groups and a basic compound after the dispersion, wherein the carbon black has a carboxylic acid group on the surface such that the value produced by dividing the amount of carboxylic acid group present on the surface by BET value is 0.8 to 5.5 (mol/m.sup.2) and the resin having anionic groups is an urethane resin that satisfies (weight average molecular weight/acid value)<1,400 or a styrene acrylic resin that satisfies (weight average molecular weight/acid value)<120.

A process for producing surface modified carbon black is disclosed. The process comprises the step of treating carbon black with a sulfur compound in an amount in the range of 0.005%-1% of the carbon black to effect in situ formation of surface groups to produce the surface modified carbon black which when combined with a polymer composition alters the carbon black-polymer interaction to decrease the hysteresis of the polymer composition. The curing time required for polymer composition comprising the surface modified carbon black is also decreased. The preferred sulfur compounds are sulfite or sulfate salts.