From Wikipedia- Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products such as FCC tar, coal tar, ethylene cracking tar, and a small amount from vegetable oil. Carbon black is a form of amorphous carbon that has a high surface area to volume ratio, and as such it is one of the first nanomaterials to find common use, although its surface area to volume ratio is low compared to activated carbon. It is similar to soot but with a much higher surface area to volume ratio. Carbon black is used as a pigment and reinforcement in rubber and plastic products.