West Sacramento-based Origin Materials, specialised in the production of carbon-negative materials and ATC Plastics, a global manufacturer of black colour concentrates headquartered in Texas, have entered into a strategic partnership to bring sustainable carbon-negative carbon black made using Origin Materials’ patented technology platform to the plastics industry. Initial applications that are targeted include plastic masterbatch for corrugated pipe and plastic manufacturing processes such as blow moulding, injection moulding, pipe extrusion, compounding, plastic film and sheet, and rotational moulding.
The cost-competitive carbon black produced by Origin is based on HTC, or hydrothermal carbon derived from sustainable wood residues rather than fossil resources, and has a carbon-negative footprint.
Like traditional petroleum-based carbon black, it can be used in a wide range of applications including belts and hoses, mechanical rubber goods, tires, plastic masterbatch, and toners.
Under the agreement between the companies, ATC Plastics has agreed to purchase Origin’s carbon black; plus, the two companies will collaborate on the development of carbon black for plastic corrugated pipe, plastic extrusion, and moulding applications.
“ATC Plastics’ manufacturing capabilities and expansive customer network can enable broad adoption of Origin’s patented technology platform and help drive the ‘once in a planet’ shift to sustainable materials, including renewable carbon black across the plastic compounding industry,” said Rich Riley, co-CEO of Origin Materials
The global market for carbon black is projected to reach $26 billion by 2025, expanding at 6% CAGR, according to Grand View Research, Inc. Plastics is anticipated to be the fastest-growing application for carbon black from 2019 to 2025 resulting from its use in the production of high-performance products.
“The industry is ready for something like this and it comes at an opportune time when carbon black is in very tight supply,” concluded Tom Stevning, Managing Partner at ATC Plastics LLC.