Application of Conductive Carbon Black in Coatings: Selection Criteria, Dispersion Control, and Conductive Network Construction

1 The Role of Conductive Carbon Black in Coatings

1.1 Why coatings need to be conductive

Most coatings use resin as the continuous phase and typically exhibit high electrical resistance after film formation. For ordinary decorative and protective coatings, this insulating property is not necessarily a problem. However, in applications such as antistatic flooring, electronic-industry coatings, conductive primers for plastic parts, and coatings used in explosion-hazard areas, a coating film that cannot dissipate electrical charge may lead to static charge accumulation, dust attraction, discharge interference, or even safety risks.

The role of conductive carbon black in coatings is not simply to provide black color or to replace ordinary pigments. Instead, it enables an originally insulating resin film to achieve a controlled resistance range. Its core function is to establish charge-transfer pathways within the resin continuous phase, transforming the coating film from an “insulating film” into a “controlled-resistance film.” When evaluating conductive carbon black, it is not enough to consider whether the carbon black itself is conductive. What matters is whether, after being incorporated into a coating system, it can form a stable, continuous, and reproducible conductive network in the dry film.

1.2 Conductive carbon black solves the problem of charge pathways

Ordinary carbon black is mainly used for blackness, tinting strength, hiding power, hue, and gloss. Conductive carbon black, by contrast, focuses more on whether a conductive pathway can be established at a relatively low loading level. The key differences between the two can be summarized as follows:

Comparison item	Ordinary carbon black	Conductive carbon black
Main purpose	Provides color, hiding power, and decorative effect	Builds a conductive network and reduces coating-film resistance
Core evaluation criteria	Blackness, tinting strength, hue, gloss, dispersibility	Surface resistance, volume resistance, percolation threshold, conductivity stability
Structural requirements	Selected according to color and dispersion requirements	Usually requires higher structure and higher specific surface area
Formulation risks	Floating/flooding, mottling, gloss reduction, poor dispersion	Increased viscosity, resistance fluctuation, unstable conductive network, narrower application window

2 Why Conductive Carbon Black Makes Coating Films Conductive

2.1 Conductivity comes from a percolation network

After conductive carbon black is added to a coating, it does not immediately make the coating film conductive. At low loading levels, carbon black particles or aggregates are dispersed in the resin and remain relatively far apart from one another, making continuous charge transfer difficult. The coating film therefore remains close to an insulating state. As the amount of conductive carbon black increases, the average distance between particles gradually decreases. When particles, aggregates, or agglomerates begin to form continuous charge-transfer pathways across the film, the coating-film resistance drops by orders of magnitude. This critical region is called the percolation threshold.

The basic process is as follows:

The resin itself is insulating → At low conductive carbon black loading, carbon black is distributed as isolated domains → As carbon black content increases, the distance between particles decreases → Carbon black aggregates begin to contact, overlap, or form tunneling pathways → The percolation threshold is reached, and coating-film resistance drops rapidly → Further addition of carbon black brings slower improvement in conductivity, while viscosity, gloss, application properties, and mechanical performance are significantly affected.

The relationship between conductive carbon black loading and coating-film resistance is usually not linear. Before the percolation threshold is reached, adding a small amount of carbon black may have only limited influence on resistance. Near the percolation threshold, a small change in loading can cause a substantial drop in resistance. Once the formulation is well above the percolation threshold, further carbon black addition has limited effect on improving conductivity, while the side effects become much more pronounced.

2.2 Interparticle distance is more critical than the conductivity of individual particles

In a coating system, the key factor determining conductivity is not how conductive an individual carbon black particle is, but whether sufficiently close and continuous charge-transfer pathways can be formed between particles.

Charge transfer mainly depends on two mechanisms:

① Direct-contact conduction: Carbon black aggregates come into contact or overlap with one another, forming continuous conductive chains.

② Tunneling conduction: Carbon black particles do not necessarily need to be in complete contact. If the distance between them is sufficiently small, electrons may still tunnel through a thin resin layer or interfacial layer. Tunneling current is highly sensitive to interparticle distance; even a slight increase in distance may lead to a significant rise in resistance.

This explains why the same conductive carbon black can produce completely different resistance results in different resins, with different dispersants, or under different grinding processes. Resin coating thickness, dispersion state, curing shrinkage, film thickness, and particle arrangement can all change the interparticle distance and the continuity of the conductive network.

2.3 The core of formulation design is to find the minimum effective loading

Conductive carbon black is not a case of “the more, the better.” A rational formulation should identify the loading region where a stable conductive network is just established. This region needs to satisfy four conditions at the same time:

① The dry-film resistance reaches the target range;

② The coating viscosity remains suitable for production and application;

③ The appearance, adhesion, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance of the coating film do not deteriorate significantly;

④ The resistance remains stable after storage, application, and curing.

If the conductive carbon black loading is too low, the coating film may fail to reach the target resistance. If the loading is too high, it can easily lead to increased viscosity, poorer leveling, lower gloss, embrittlement of the coating film, and reduced mechanical performance. A truly effective formulation strikes a balance between target resistance and overall coating-film performance.

3 Why Ordinary Carbon Black Cannot Simply Replace Conductive Carbon Black

3.1 Conductive carbon black places greater emphasis on network-forming capability

Ordinary carbon black and conductive carbon black are both carbon materials, but their functional purposes in coatings are different. Ordinary carbon black mainly provides coloration and hiding power, whereas conductive carbon black must form a conductive network within the resin.

Conductive carbon black usually has higher structure, higher specific surface area, smaller primary particle size or a higher effective particle count, a more developed aggregate morphology, and pore or spatial structures that help reduce interparticle distance. These features make it easier to form a continuous or nearly continuous conductive network in the dry coating film, thereby lowering the percolation threshold. High-structure carbon black refers to carbon black in which fused primary particles form aggregates that are more complex, more branched, longer-chain, and more spatially extended. Low-structure carbon black has more compact aggregates that are closer to clustered or globular shapes.

Among these factors, “structure” is usually very important for the conductive network. In most cases, aggregates of high-structure carbon black are more likely to form chain-like, branched, or complex aggregate morphologies, making them easier to overlap with one another and form continuous or nearly continuous conductive pathways. Even if low-structure carbon black has good blackness, it may require a higher loading to achieve the same resistance level because it is more difficult for the particles to form a through-connected network.

3.2 Specific surface area and structure should not be judged in isolation

Specific surface area is usually characterized by nitrogen adsorption specific surface area or Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area (BET). A higher specific surface area means that a given mass of carbon black has more surface area and a larger number of particles, which helps shorten interparticle distance and lower the percolation threshold.

Structure is commonly characterized by Oil Absorption Number (OAN) or Dibutyl Phthalate Absorption Number (DBP). A higher OAN or DBP generally indicates a more developed carbon black aggregate structure, which makes it easier to form conductive pathways.

However, in coating formulation, it should not be assumed that the higher the BET or OAN, the better. High specific surface area and high structure are favorable for conductivity, but they also bring side effects, such as greater wetting difficulty, higher dispersant demand, increased slurry viscosity, greater difficulty in grinding and conveying, possible reductions in gloss and leveling, and potential effects on the mechanical performance of the coating film.

3.3 Main risks of replacing conductive carbon black with ordinary carbon black

Ordinary carbon black can also reduce coating-film resistance in some cases, but it usually presents three risks.

① Higher percolation threshold.

If ordinary carbon black has a relatively low structure, a higher loading is required to form conductive pathways. Once the loading increases, coating viscosity, application properties, gloss, and the mechanical properties of the coating film can all be affected.

② Poorer resistance stability.

Even if ordinary carbon black achieves a certain resistance level under laboratory conditions, large fluctuations may still occur due to changes in dispersion, film thickness, storage, and application conditions.

③ Narrower formulation window.

When a system must rely on high loading to become conductive, the conflict between meeting the resistance target and maintaining application performance becomes more obvious, and batch-to-batch stability in industrial production becomes more difficult to control.

4 Why Dispersion Determines the Success or Failure of Conductive Carbon Black

4.1 Conductive carbon black dispersion is not simply “the finer, the better”

Pigment dispersion usually pursues fineness, gloss, tinting strength, and storage stability. For conductive carbon black, dispersion must also consider whether a conductive network can be formed.

If dispersion is insufficient, large agglomerates cannot be effectively opened up, and the coating film will contain local carbon black-rich regions and local resin-rich regions. Although some areas may be conductive, the overall resistance will be non-uniform, surface roughness will increase, and coarsening or sedimentation may occur after storage. If dispersion is excessive or the dispersion system is unsuitable, the network state that originally favored overlap among high-structure carbon black may be weakened. At the same time, excessive dispersant or resin encapsulation can increase the insulating distance between particles, making it difficult for carbon black to form effective charge-transfer pathways.

The proper dispersion objective for conductive carbon black is not to “break the particles down as finely as possible,” but rather to open up harmful large agglomerates, preserve aggregate structures that are favorable for conductivity, and allow them to form a uniform and stable conductive network in the dry film.

4.2 Differences among under-dispersion, proper dispersion, and over-dispersion

Dispersion state	Coating behavior	Conductivity result	Main problem
Under-dispersion	Coarse particles, coarsening, rough surface, poor storage stability	Non-uniform resistance and large batch-to-batch variation	Agglomerates are not sufficiently opened, and the network distribution is discontinuous
Proper dispersion	Suitable fineness, stable slurry, controllable application properties	Stable resistance and relatively high conductivity efficiency	Requires matching of dispersant, grinding energy, and resin system
Over-dispersion	Viscosity may increase, network state may be weakened, dispersant encapsulation becomes stronger	Resistance may instead increase	Favorable conductive structure is damaged, and interparticle distance increases

For conductive carbon black systems, dispersion quality cannot be judged only by a grind gauge. Passing the fineness requirement only means that large particles have been reduced; it does not prove that the conductive network is appropriate. Resistance testing, viscosity, gloss, storage stability, and coating-film appearance must also be evaluated together.

4.3 Dispersants and resin encapsulation affect interparticle distance

The role of a dispersant is to help wet carbon black, reduce agglomeration, and improve storage stability. However, in conductive coatings, excessive dispersant dosage or an overly thick adsorption layer may form a relatively thick insulating barrier between carbon black particles, reducing the probability of particle contact and lowering tunneling efficiency.

The resin system can have a similar effect. Polarity, molecular weight, glass transition temperature, crosslink density, and curing shrinkage can all affect the final spacing between carbon black particles in the dry film. Some systems may appear well dispersed in the wet coating stage, but after film formation and curing, the conductive network may change due to resin migration, volume shrinkage, or rearrangement of pigments and fillers.

5 How to Use Conductive Carbon Black in Coatings

5.1 Determine the target resistance first, then select the carbon black

The first step in designing a conductive coating formulation is to define the target resistance range. Different applications have different resistance requirements. Antistatic coatings, static-dissipative coatings, conductive primers, and functional conductive coatings do not have the same targets. Before formulation design, the following points should be clarified:

① Whether surface resistance, surface resistivity/sheet resistance, volume resistance, or volume resistivity will be measured;

② What the target resistance or resistivity range is;

③ What film thickness will be tested;

④ How test temperature and humidity will be controlled;

⑤ Whether the coating film needs to be grounded;

⑥ Whether resistance must remain stable after damp-heat exposure, abrasion, and aging;

⑦ Which test standard and electrode configuration will be used.

5.2 Conduct gradient experiments based on carbon black content in the dry film

Conductive carbon black ultimately functions in the dry film. Therefore, loading should be analyzed based on the effective content in the dry film, rather than only on the addition ratio in the wet coating formulation.

A rational approach is to select two to three conductive carbon black grades with different conductivity efficiency and dispersion difficulty, and set up gradients around the dry-film carbon black content. For example, with the resin system and application conditions fixed, several loading levels can be designed to test dry-film surface resistance, volume resistance, viscosity, fineness, gloss, adhesion, and storage stability.

The focus of the experiment is to identify the trend of resistance as carbon black content changes:

① Low-loading region: Resistance is high, indicating that the conductive network has not yet formed;

② Percolation-critical region: Resistance drops rapidly and is highly sensitive to loading and dispersion state;

③ High-loading region: Resistance improvement slows down, while formulation side effects become more serious.

The formulation should preferably be selected in the region close to but above the percolation threshold, rather than blindly increasing the amount of carbon black.

5.3 Preferably prepare a stable carbon black slurry first

Conductive carbon black has a high specific surface area and a developed structure. If it is added directly into the finished coating, problems such as insufficient wetting, uneven dispersion, agglomeration, coarsening, and viscosity loss of control can easily occur. A more reliable approach is to prepare a conductive carbon black slurry first and then incorporate it into the main coating system.

Four issues should be considered when preparing a carbon black slurry:

① Whether wetting is sufficient

Insufficient wetting makes agglomerates difficult to open up and reduces the efficiency of subsequent grinding.

② Whether the grinding energy is appropriate

Insufficient energy leads to under-dispersion. Excessive energy, or a poorly matched dispersion system, may weaken the overlap state that is favorable for conductivity and increase the insulating distance caused by resin or dispersant encapsulation.

③ Whether the dispersant is suitable

The dispersant should improve slurry stability without excessively encapsulating the carbon black and interfering with the formation of conductive pathways.

④ Whether the slurry is stable

Coarsening, sedimentation, and viscosity drift after storage can all change the final conductivity stability of the coating film.

5.4 Final judgment should be based on the overall performance of the dry film

The final evaluation object of a conductive coating is the dry film, not powder indicators or the appearance of the wet coating. Whether conductive carbon black has been used properly needs to be judged comprehensively:

① Whether resistance reaches the target range;

② Whether resistance is uniform;

③ Whether changes in film thickness cause large resistance fluctuations;

④ Whether resistance remains stable after damp heat, abrasion, and aging;

⑤ Whether viscosity is suitable for production and application;

⑥ Whether gloss, leveling, adhesion, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance meet the requirements;

⑦ Whether results are easy to reproduce from batch to batch.

The objective of a conductive carbon black formulation is to satisfy the resistance requirement while minimizing the loading as much as possible, thereby reducing damage to coating application properties and coating-film performance.

6 Indicators to Consider During Selection

6.1 Indicators that determine conductivity efficiency

Conductivity efficiency mainly depends on whether carbon black can form a conductive network at a relatively low loading.

Indicator	Influence on conductivity	Key consideration
Specific surface area	A higher specific surface area means more particles per unit mass, which helps shorten interparticle distance	Excessively high values increase wetting and dispersion difficulty
Structure	High structure favors aggregate overlap and lowers the percolation threshold	Excessively high structure significantly increases viscosity
Primary particle size	Smaller particle size means more particles, which helps form more contact points	Small particle size is usually accompanied by high surface area and high adsorption demand
Pore structure	Helps improve spatial occupation and formation of a conductive network	Should be judged together with oil absorption and actual viscosity
Aggregate morphology	Chain-like and branched aggregates are usually easier to overlap	Excessive grinding or an unsuitable dispersion system may weaken conductive overlap

These indicators only show the potential of conductive carbon black to form a network; they cannot be directly equated with the final coating-film resistance. The final result still depends on the resin, dispersion, film thickness, and curing conditions.

6.2 Indicators that determine dispersion and application properties

The easier conductive carbon black is to form a network, the more likely it is to create processing difficulty. This is the main contradiction in conductive coating formulation. Key factors to consider include oil absorption, powder form, surface chemistry, volatile content, pH value, moisture content, dispersant compatibility, slurry viscosity, and coarsening or sedimentation after storage.

High oil absorption usually means a developed structure, but it also means that the system requires more resin, solvent, or additives for wetting and dispersion. If the resin system does not have sufficient carrying capacity, conductive carbon black may reduce resistance, but it can also cause excessive viscosity, application difficulty, or poorer coating-film appearance.

6.3 Indicators that determine coating-film reliability

In engineering applications, achieving the target resistance once is not enough. More importantly, the resistance must remain stable during production, storage, application, and service.

Key evaluations should include surface resistance, volume resistance, resistance uniformity, film-thickness sensitivity, resistance change after damp-heat exposure, resistance change after abrasion, resistance change after aging, batch-to-batch stability, and compatibility with the substrate and topcoat.

When the coating film falls within a moderately conductive range, ASTM D4496 or corresponding industry test methods may be used for evaluation. During actual testing, surface resistance, surface resistivity, volume resistance, or volume resistivity should be clearly specified, and film thickness, temperature and humidity, test voltage, electrode configuration, and electrification time should be strictly controlled. Otherwise, the comparability of data between different experiments will be reduced.

7 Representative Materials and Application Tables for Conductive Coating Formulation Research

Table 1 Conductive Network Construction Materials

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Conductive carbon black filler	1333-86-4	C742510	Acetylene Black	Lithium-ion battery electrode material	Used for conductive network construction in conductive carbon black coatings, resistance-control experiments, and comparative studies of carbon-based conductive fillers
Graphitized nano-carbon filler	1333-86-4	C431910	Graphitized Carbon	≥99.95% metals basis, nanopowder, graphitized, <500 nm particle size (DLS)	Used for compounding graphitized carbon with conductive carbon black to study the effects of graphitized structure on coating-film resistance, conductivity stability, and filler dispersion state
Easy-dispersible carbon nanotubes for coatings	308068-56-6	C139964	Easy-Dispersible Carbon Nanotubes (for Coatings)	CNTs/Dispersant: 90/10	Used for enhancing conductive pathways in conductive carbon black coatings, low-loading network-formation experiments, and coating dispersion-process research
Carbon nanotube/mineral composite filler for coatings	308068-56-6	C139965	Carbon Nanotube/Mica Filler (for Coatings)	CNTs/Mica: 10/90	Used for composite filler design in conductive coatings and for studying the effects of platy mineral fillers and carbon nanotubes on coating-film conductivity, thixotropy, and sedimentation stability
Aqueous carbon nanotube conductive slurry	308068-56-6	C139955	Aqueous Carbon Nanotube Slurry	9–10 wt% in water	Used for compounding in waterborne conductive carbon black coatings, preparation of waterborne conductive slurries, and research on carbon nanotube bridging within conductive networks
Aqueous graphene conductive slurry	7782-42-5	G139800	Aqueous Graphene Slurry	Graphene content: 1–1.5 wt%; dispersant content: 0.2–0.3 wt%	Used for compounding platy carbon materials in waterborne conductive coatings and for studying the effects of graphene on coating-film surface resistance, volume resistance, and conductivity uniformity
Polar solvent-based graphene conductive slurry	7782-42-5	G139801	Graphene NMP Slurry	Graphene content: 1–1.5 wt%; dispersant content: 0.2–0.3 wt%	Used in conductive coatings based on polar resin systems and in graphene compounding experiments to study the effects of platy carbon materials on percolation threshold and slurry rheology
Graphene/carbon nanotube composite aqueous slurry	7782-42-5	G139808	Industrial-Grade Nano Graphene Nanoplatelet/Carbon Nanotube Composite Aqueous Slurry	GNP and CNT content: 1–5 wt%; GNP:CNTs = 1:1; dispersant content: 0.2–1.0 wt%	Used for research on synergistic network formation between platy carbon materials and tubular carbon materials; suitable for experiments on resistance stability and filler compounding in waterborne conductive coatings
Conductive graphene powder	1034343-98-0	G476622	Graphene	Powder, conductivity >10³ S/m	Used for compounding platy conductive fillers in conductive carbon black coatings and for studying the effects of graphene content on conductive-network continuity and coating-film resistance
High-specific-surface-area graphene nanoplatelets	1034343-98-0	G684181	Graphene Nanoplatelets	Specific surface area: 750 m²/g	Used for platy conductive filler design and for studying the effects of specific surface area on filler overlap, slurry viscosity, and coating-film conductivity efficiency
High-purity graphene powder	1034343-98-0	G302113	High-Purity Graphene	≥99%	Used for fundamental research on carbon-based conductive fillers, conductive carbon black compounding experiments, and analysis of coating-film conduction mechanisms

Table 2 Transparent Conductive Materials, Conductive Polymers, and Metallic Conductive Fillers

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Waterborne transparent conductive filler	50926-11-9	I432794	Indium Tin Oxide	≥99.5% metals basis, 20 wt% in H₂O	Used for research on waterborne transparent conductive coatings and light-colored antistatic coatings; can be compared with carbon-based conductive fillers in terms of resistance and appearance
Isopropanol-dispersed transparent conductive filler	50926-11-9	I123224	Indium Tin Oxide	<100 nm particle size (DLS), 30 wt% in isopropanol solution	Used for solvent-based transparent conductive coatings, light-colored antistatic coatings, and dispersion experiments of nano-oxide conductive fillers
Nano transparent conductive oxide powder	50926-11-9	I398649	Indium Tin Oxide	≥99.9% metals basis, 50 nm	Used for dispersion research on nano conductive oxide powders and for evaluating the effects of particle size, dispersion state, and loading level on coating-film resistance
Waterborne conductive polymer dispersion	155090-83-8	P475428	Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)	1–1.3% in water, conductivity ≥850 S/cm	Used for research on waterborne conductive coatings, transparent antistatic coatings, and compounding of conductive polymers with carbon materials
Surfactant-free conductive polymer dispersion	155090-83-8	P475427	Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS)	1.1% in H₂O, surfactant-free, high-conductivity grade	Used for surface-resistance control experiments in waterborne conductive coatings; suitable for studying the auxiliary role of conductive polymers in carbon-material network formation
Neutral waterborne conductive polymer dispersion	155090-83-8	P475424	Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)	1.5% in H₂O, neutral pH, high-conductivity grade	Used for neutral waterborne conductive coatings, flexible conductive films, and compounding experiments with carbon-based conductive fillers
Intrinsically conductive polymer	25233-30-1	P169039	Polyaniline	—	Used for intrinsically conductive polymer coatings, antistatic coatings, and conductive carbon black composite anticorrosive systems
Submicron silver powder conductive filler	7440-22-4	S776852	Silver Powder	D50: 0.30–0.50 μm; specific surface area: 0.8–1.5 m²/g	Used for highly conductive coatings, conductive inks, and comparative studies of conductivity efficiency between metallic fillers and carbon-based fillers
Silver nanowire conductive network material	7440-22-4	S433442	Silver Nanowire Suspension	Diameter × L: 115 nm × 20–50 μm; 0.5% suspension in isopropanol	Used for transparent conductive coatings, flexible conductive films, and experiments on the construction of high-aspect-ratio metallic conductive networks
Ultrafine silver powder conductive filler	7440-22-4	S1371925	Silver Powder	≥99.99% metals basis, D50 ≤0.2 μm, containing rosin dispersant	Used in fine-particle metallic conductive filler systems and for studying the effects of silver powder particle size, dispersant, and filling level on coating-film conductivity
Ultrafine spherical copper powder conductive filler	7440-50-8	C103836	Ultrafine Spherical Copper Powder	≥99.9% metals basis, powder, D50: 0.2–1 μm	Used for comparative experiments between metallic conductive coatings and carbon-based fillers, and for studying the effects of spherical copper powder on conductivity, dispersibility, and sedimentation stability
Micron copper powder conductive filler	7440-50-8	C131630	Copper Powder	≥99.9% metals basis, 1 μm	Used for conductive coatings, shielding coatings, and research on metallic powder conductive network construction
Nano copper powder conductive filler	7440-50-8	C491874	Copper Powder	≥99.5% metals basis, 100–500 nm	Used for nano-copper conductive coatings and fine-particle metallic filler compounding research, with attention to copper powder oxidation, dispersion stability, and coating-film resistance changes
Nano nickel powder conductive filler	7440-02-0	N140857	Nano Nickel Powder	≥99.9% metals basis, 100–200 nm	Used for conductive coatings, electromagnetic shielding coatings, and dispersion experiments of nano-metallic fillers
Electrolytic nickel powder conductive filler	7440-02-0	N105831	Electrolytic Nickel Powder	≥99.9% metals basis, ≥200 mesh	Used in metallic conductive filler systems, shielding coatings, and compounding research of nickel powder with carbon-based fillers
Micron nickel powder conductive filler	7440-02-0	N434834	Nickel	≥99.7% metals basis, powder, <50 μm	Used for conductive protective coatings, metal-powder-filled systems, and comparative experiments on coating-film conductivity

Table 3 Resin Monomers, Epoxy Systems, and Curing/Crosslinking Materials

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Hydroxy acrylic functional monomer	868-77-9	H140643	2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA)	Anhydrous grade, ≥99%, contains 200 ppm MEHQ stabilizer, water ≤0.1%	Used for synthesis of hydroxy acrylic resins; suitable for resin design in conductive primers and crosslinked conductive coatings
Phenolic epoxy resin	28064-14-4	P477976	D.E.N.™ 438 Phenolic Epoxy Resin	Epoxy equivalent weight: 176–181 g/eq; viscosity at 51.7°C: 31,000–40,000 cps	Used for chemical-resistant conductive epoxy coatings, antistatic flooring, and research on high-crosslink-density conductive coating films
Flexible acrylic monomer	141-32-2	B100035	Butyl Acrylate (BA)	≥99%, stabilized with 10–60 ppm MEHQ	Used for flexibility adjustment in acrylic resins and for improving film formation, flexibility, and adhesion performance of conductive coating films
Bisphenol F-type epoxy reactive component	2095-03-6	B485597	Bis[4-(glycidyloxy)phenyl]methane	Isomer mixture	Used for resin matrix design in conductive epoxy coatings and for studying the effects of low-viscosity epoxy systems on conductive carbon black loading capacity and dispersibility
Bisphenol A-type epoxy reactive component	1675-54-3	B131786	Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE)	Moligand™, ≥85%	Used for basic formulations of conductive epoxy coatings, conductive carbon black dispersion carriers, and coating-film adhesion research
Hard acrylic monomer	80-62-6	M109629	Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)	≥99.5% (GC), stabilized with 30 ppm DMBP	Used for acrylic resin synthesis; suitable for fast-drying conductive coatings, conductive primers for plastic parts, and coating-film hardness adjustment experiments
Aliphatic amine epoxy curing agent	112-24-3	T418727	Triethylenetetramine (TETA)	≥97% (T)	Used for room-temperature curing of conductive epoxy coatings and for studying the effects of curing density on conductive networks and coating-film performance
Aliphatic amine epoxy curing agent	111-40-0	D100059	Diethylenetriamine	≥99%	Used in amine-cured conductive epoxy coating systems; suitable for rapid curing and conductive carbon black dispersion-carrier research
Aliphatic isocyanate crosslinker	822-06-0	H106723	Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI)	Moligand™, ≥99%	Used for crosslinking polyurethane conductive coatings; suitable for weather-resistant and abrasion-resistant conductive coating-film research
Cycloaliphatic isocyanate crosslinker	4098-71-9	I109582	Isophorone Diisocyanate (mixture of isomers) (IPDI)	≥99%	Used for crosslinking polyurethane conductive coatings; suitable for research on balancing weatherability, hardness, and flexibility
Cycloaliphatic amine epoxy curing agent	2855-13-2	A104545	Isophoronediamine (cis/trans mixture) (IPDA)	≥99%	Used for cycloaliphatic amine curing of conductive epoxy coatings; suitable for research on chemical resistance, hardness, and mechanical properties
Polyamide epoxy curing agent	63428-84-2	P304226	Polyamide Curing Agent (650)	Amine value: 200–240 mg KOH/g	Used for flexible conductive epoxy coatings; suitable for antistatic flooring, conductive primers, and adhesion research
Polyetheramine epoxy curing agent	9046-10-0	P108071	Polyetheramine D-230	Average Mn ~230	Used for toughness adjustment in conductive epoxy coatings and for studying the effects of flexible curing agents on conductive-network stability and coating-film mechanical properties

Table 4 Dispersion/Wetting, Interface Control, and Slurry Stabilization Materials

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Anionic surfactant	151-21-3	S767322	Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS)	≥98.5%	Used for dispersion research of waterborne carbon materials and for evaluating the effects of surfactants on conductive carbon black wetting, interparticle distance, and resistance stability
Nonionic surfactant	9003-11-6	S434418	Synperonic® PE P105	Surfactant	Used in nonionic wetting and dispersion systems to study the relationship among carbon-material slurry stability, resin compatibility, and coating-film conductivity
Low-molecular-weight polyether wetting aid	25322-68-3	P103737	Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)	Average Mn 400	Used for wetting, compatibility adjustment, and dispersion assistance of carbon materials in waterborne conductive slurries
High-efficiency wetting and penetrating agent	577-11-7	A106730	Sodium Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Sulfosuccinate (AOT)	Moligand™, ≥96%	Used for powder wetting and carbon-material dispersion experiments, and for studying the effects of interfacial wetting on conductive network formation
Waterborne polycarboxylate dispersant	9003-04-7	S108368	Sodium Polyacrylate (PAAS)	45% aqueous solution, Mw ≈ 4500	Used for dispersion stabilization of waterborne carbon black slurries; suitable for studying the effects of dispersant dosage on slurry viscosity, coarsening, and coating-film resistance
Nonionic polymeric dispersion stabilizer	9003-39-8	P274371	Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)	M.W. ~40,000, high-purity grade (K30)	Used for dispersion of carbon nanomaterials and conductive fillers; suitable for research on conductive slurry stability and interparticle-distance control

Table 5 Solvents, Diluents, and Film-Forming Auxiliary Materials

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Strong polar dispersion solvent	872-50-4	M119668	N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)	Anhydrous grade, ≥99.5%	Used for dispersion of polar resin systems and carbon nanomaterials; suitable for slurry research involving conductive carbon black, graphene, and carbon nanotubes
Alcohol ether co-solvent	107-98-2	M105265	Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether (PGME)	≥99.5%	Used as a co-solvent for waterborne and solvent-based conductive coatings to adjust application open time, wetting, and film formation
Alcohol ether ester film-forming solvent	108-65-6	P295138	Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate (PMA)	≥99.5%	Used in acrylic, epoxy, and polyurethane conductive coatings to adjust evaporation rate, leveling, and coating-film formation quality
Alcohol ether film-forming aid	111-76-2	E110827	Ethylene Glycol Butyl Ether (EB)	AR, ≥99%	Used for film formation and co-solvent effects in waterborne conductive coatings, improving wetting, leveling, and application stability
Ester diluent solvent	123-86-4	B116229	Butyl Acetate	≥99.5%, polyurethane grade	Used for diluting polyurethane and acrylic conductive coatings and for adjusting evaporation rate and application leveling
High-boiling leveling co-solvent	123-42-2	D103436	Diacetone Alcohol	≥99% (GC)	Used as a high-boiling co-solvent and leveling aid in conductive coatings; suitable for studying the influence of the drying process on conductive networks
Aromatic diluent solvent	1330-20-7	X112054	Xylene	ACS, ≥98.5%, isomers plus ethylbenzene	Used for diluting solvent-based epoxy, alkyd, and polyurethane conductive coatings and for adjusting resin solubility and application viscosity
Hydrophobic lubricating auxiliary material	8042-47-5	M274343	Mineral Oil	High-purity grade	Used for lubrication, surface feel, and hydrophobic compatibility research, and for evaluating the effects of oily components on conductive filler dispersion, surface migration, and coating-film resistance

Table 6 Rheology, Anti-Settling, Surface Control, and Abrasion-Resistance Modification Materials

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Item No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Nano silica reinforcing filler	7631-86-9	S104597	Nano Silicon Dioxide	≥99.5% metals basis, 15 nm	Used for reinforcement, thixotropy, and anti-settling research in conductive carbon black coatings, and for evaluating the effects of inorganic nano-fillers on conductive-network continuity
Hydrophobic fumed silica rheology modifier	112945-52-5	S124828	Fumed Silica	Hydrophobic type, specific surface area (BET): 200 m²/g	Used for anti-settling, anti-sagging, and thixotropy control in solvent-based conductive coatings; suitable for high-specific-surface-area conductive carbon black systems
Organic thixotropic agent	8001-78-3	H196306	Hydrogenated Castor Oil (HCO)	—	Used for thixotropy control and anti-settling research in solvent-based conductive coatings, helping conductive fillers remain suspended and stable
Organobentonite rheology modifier	1302-78-9	B102862	Bentonite	BENTONE 27, applied in medium- to high-polarity solvents	Used for anti-settling, anti-sagging, and storage-stability research of conductive fillers; suitable for medium- to high-polarity solvent-based systems
Medium-viscosity silicone oil surface-control agent	63148-62-9	D104762	Dimethyl Silicone Oil PMX-200	Viscosity: 100 ± 8 mPa·s	Used for defoaming, leveling, and surface-slip research in conductive coatings, and for evaluating the effects of silicone oil migration on coating-film surface resistance testing
High-molecular-weight silicone surface-control agent	9016-00-6	P195721	Polydimethylsiloxane, Trimethylsiloxy-Terminated	Average M.W. 115,000	Used for surface slip, leveling, and interface adjustment in conductive coatings, with attention to the compatibility of silicone components with resins and conductive fillers
Abrasion-resistant and slip-modifying powder	9002-88-4	P434346	Polyethylene (PE)	Ultra-high molecular weight, surface-modified, powder, average particle size 125 μm	Used for abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, and slip modification in conductive coatings, and for evaluating the effects of surface-modified polyethylene powder on coating-film friction performance and surface resistance

Note: The materials listed above are provided only as references for conductive coating formulation research and material selection. Conductive carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and nano-metal powders require attention to dust inhalation, dust dispersion, and electrostatic ignition risks. NMP, isocyanates, amine curing agents, nano-metal powders, and related materials should be handled, ventilated, stored, and disposed of in accordance with SDS requirements. More product specifications, grades, and COA information can be searched on the Aladdin website using the product name, CAS number, or item number.

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