tarboat's photos with the keyword: carbon

The US owned Cabot Carbon plant at Ellesmere Port produced carbon black using the oil furnace process. This is used in the production of tyres, toners, printing inks, plastics and coatings. The works was busy when I took this shot but has now been closed and production transferred to a cheaper location in China. It was Britain's largest producer of Carbon black. By 2010 the demolition men were on site. Since 2019 the site has been occupied by a factory manufacturing containerboard and corrugated board.

On a trip out along the River Weaver we experienced a little local difficulty when the exhaust caught fire due to a large build-up of carbon in the pipe. This type of event is particularly impressive at night when you can see the incandescent lumps of carbon erupting from the exhaust and raining down on all and sundry. In this daytime view you can see the lumps flying out amidst the flames and the steerer taking evasive action as his tee shirt is beginning to burn into holes. It was all over in a couple of minutes, leaving a carpet of oily carbon pieces to be swept from the cabin roof.