4005.10.00.00 - Compounded with carbon black or silica

This HTS classification, 4005.10.00.00, specifically addresses unvulcanized compounded rubber in its primary forms or in plates, sheets, or strip, where the compounding has been achieved through the incorporation of carbon black or silica. These additives are crucial for modifying the physical properties of the rubber, enhancing characteristics such as strength, abrasion resistance, and elasticity, and are a primary distinguishing factor for goods classified here.

This category is distinct from its sibling, 4005.20.00.00, which covers solutions and dispersions of compounded rubber. While both subheadings fall under the broader umbrella of compounded rubber, 4005.10.00.00 pertains to the solid, unvulcanized rubber itself, mixed with specific reinforcing fillers. The other sibling, "Other," would encompass compounded rubber not fitting the specific criteria of 4005.10.00.00 or 4005.20.00.00. As a leaf node, there are no further subdivisions within this classification; therefore, the classification hinges on the presence of carbon black or silica as compounding agents in the unvulcanized rubber.