What are the key differences between furnace-grade and acetylene-derived conductive carbon black?

What are the key differences between furnace-grade and acetylene-derived conductive carbon black?
Conductive carbon black is produced mainly via two routes: the furnace process and acetylene pyrolysis. Furnace-grade carbon black, including the widely used Super P Li, requires specially designed reactors that differ from conventional rubber-grade units. Standard reactors have large diameters that create uneven temperature fields, preventing complete cracking of feedstock oil and failing to meet high oil absorption and low metal impurity specs. Key improvements include precision nozzle design, dual furnace heads, and optimized throat geometry. Post-treatment is equally critical: lithium-battery-grade material demands magnetic impurity control through demagnetization equipment and extended processing time. Acetylene-derived carbon black, made by pyrolyzing acetylene without air, offers higher purity and crystallinity, making it suitable for conductive polymers and batteries. Only a few Chinese firms, such as Black Cat and Anhui Heiyu, have mastered the post-treatment oxidation route that produces high-end grades comparable to imported Ketjenblack.