This article examines government–business relations in the context of World War II mobilization of the US carbon black industry. The topic contributes to the ongoing debates about whether this relationship laid the foundation for postwar US prosperity. The primary research question is: What role did wartime mobilization and the US government play in carbon black industrial transitions and changes in technology and productivity? The evidence from wartime records of the carbon black program shows that industry dominated the government–business relations during the period. The War Production Board was unable to effectively resolve or even report on disputes between synthetic rubber and carbon black industry factions or resist carbon black industry control over product prices and specifications and approval of government-financed plant construction projects. Behind the transition was prewar and wartime carbon black industrial research and development. Through the federal government’s cooperative research, procurement, and sponsored construction contracts, the carbon black industry applied its industrial research discoveries to transform its business model to high-efficiency production in the context of postwar expansions of transportation infrastructure, economic growth, and natural gas pipelines.

本文考察了二战期间美国炭黑行业动员的背景下的政府与企业关系。该主题引发了关于这种关系是否为战后美国繁荣奠定基础的持续辩论。主要研究问题是：战时动员和美国政府在炭黑产业转型以及技术和生产力变革中发挥了什么作用？炭黑计划战时记录的证据表明，工业在这一时期主导了政商关系。战时生产委员会无法有效解决甚至报告合成橡胶与炭黑行业派别之间的纠纷，或抵制炭黑行业对产品价格和规格的控制以及政府资助的工厂建设项目的批准。转型的背后是战前和战时的炭黑工业研发。通过联邦政府的合作研究、采购和赞助建设合同，在战后交通基础设施、经济增长和天然气管道扩张的背景下，炭黑行业应用其工业研究发现将其商业模式转变为高效生产.