LUXEMBOURG — Carbon black supplier Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. announced on Nov. 1, 2018, that it has reached an agreement to acquire acetylene carbon black manufacturer Société du Noir d'Acétylène de l'Aubette, SAS (SN2A) from LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V. and its French affiliate. SN2A was founded in 1987 and is headquartered at Berre l'Etang, near Marseille, France.

Acetylene black is an ultra-pure premium specialty carbon black distinguished by its high electrical and thermal conductivity. Lithium-ion batteries and high-end electrical cables are key applications for this material.