The surfaces and the surface near regions of different grades of carbon black and of graphites were investigated by means of SIMS. Hard blacks and improved grades of hard blacks showed higher relative surface concentrations of hydrogen and higher integral concentrations of hydrogen than soft blacks. The C-2(-)/C2H- ratios measured with increasing material erosion rates showed significant variations indicating different concentration profiles of hydrogen. These properties correlate to the specific production parameters. Different sensitivities to controlled oxidation were observed for hard and soft furnace blacks in the fluffy state and for an improved hard furnace black (N234) in the fluffy, wet pelletized and graphitized condition. The results are discussed in the context of previous work by means of STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) and IGC (Inverse Gas Chromatography). Comparison of the fragmentation patterns of non-pelletized, dry pelletized and wet pelletized carbon blacks showed that surface modifications are induced which are insensitive to subsequent extraction procedures.