What is Mica?
Mica is chemically a Potassium Aluminium silicate with a chemical formula [SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, Hg2O] . It is described as faster dispersion, weather resistant, high degree insulation and aberration resistant. Mica is a dry sultry powder chemically inert, immune to climatic variations, non toxic, tough and water proof with excellent anti sticking property. Mica is highly responsive to the action of light, heat, and electrical energy.
India is the single largest source of mica in the world. The British Geological Survey reported that as of 2005, Koderma district in Jharkhand state in India had the largest deposits of mica in the world. China was the top producer of mica with almost a third of the global share, closely followed by the US, South Korea and Canada. Muscovite Mica is the best variety available from Rajasthan.
It is used in paint, rubber, plastics, welding rods, printing materials, dry fire , extinguishers, greases, oil drilling, lubricants, glass & ceramic FLUX. Mica is also used in decorative coatings on wallpaper, concrete, stucco, and tile surfaces. It also is used as an ingredient in flux coatings on welding rods, in some special greases, and as coatings for core and mold release compounds, facing agents, and mold washes in foundry applications.
Dry-ground mica is used in automotive brake linings and clutch plates to reduce noise and vibration (asbestos substitute); as sound-absorbing insulation for coatings and polymer systems; in reinforcing additives for polymers to increase strength and stiffness and to improve stability to heat, chemicals, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation; in heat shields and temperature insulation; in industrial coating additive to decrease the permeability of moisture and hydrocarbons; and in polar polymer formulations to increase the strength of epoxies, nylons, and polyesters.
Mica is also used as an insulator in concrete block, home attics, and can be poured into walls (usually in retrofitting uninsulated open top walls). Mica may also be used as a soil conditioner, especially in potting soil mixes and in gardening plots. Greases used for axles are composed of a compound of fatty oils to which mica, tar or graphite is added to increase the durability of the grease and give it a better surface.
Physical Properties :
Appearance | White fine powder |
Sp. gravity | : 2.7 - 2.9% |
Bulk density | : 0.44 |
Oil obsorption | : 40 to 50% |
Refractive index | : 1.57 to 1.59 |
PH of 10% aqueous solution | : 8.5 |
Hardness | : 2.5 (Mohs scale). |
Volatile matter | : max 1.0% |
Coarse particles on 400 mesh | : max 0.5% |
Chemical Composition :
SiO2 | : 45.10 |
Al2O3 | : 34.50 |
Fe2O3 | : 03.20 |
CaO | : 00.25 |
MgO | : 02.10 |
K2O | : 09.50 |
Hg2O | : 00.60 |
Industrial Applications :
- Pearl pigment: Pigment are coated with mica to make pearl pigments.
- Paper Industry : For making wall paper and coated paper.
- Paint Industry : To make good anti corrosive paint, primer, under coat, water based paints exterior coating, chemical resistant coating etc. Used in marine paints and aluminium paints. In the paint industry, ground mica is used as a pigment extender that also facilitates suspension, reduces chalking, prevents shrinking and shearing of the paint film, increases resistance of the paint film to water penetration and weathering, and brightens the tone of colored pigments. Mica also promotes paint adhesion in aqueous and oleoresinous formulations.
- Plastic Industry : Used in plastic Industry as a filler an mica improves electrical and thermal resistance and boost in insulation properties. Mica has innumerable uses in many industries like fire extinguishers, oil drilling, construction chemical, building material, lubricants, adhesives, and foundries. The plastics industry used dry-ground mica as an extender and filler, especially in parts for automobiles as lightweight insulation to suppress sound and vibration. Mica is used in plastic automobile fascia and fenders as a reinforcing material, providing improved mechanical properties and increased dimensional stability, stiffness, and strength. Mica-reinforced plastics also have high-heat dimensional stability, reduced warpage, and the best surface properties of any filled plastic composite.
- Well-drilling Industry : Ground mica is used in the well-drilling industry as an additive to drilling fluids. The coarsely ground mica flakes help prevent the loss of circulation by sealing porous sections of the drill hole.
- Rubber Industry : The rubber industry used ground mica as an inert filler and mold release compound in the manufacture of molded rubber products, such as tires and roofing. The platy texture acts as an antiblocking, antisticking agent. As a rubber additive, mica reduces gas permeation and improves resiliency.
Our Suggested Grades :
Grade | Brightness | Particle Size | Top Cut | Oil Absorption | Application |
Mica - 05 | 82% | 2 - 5 micron | 20 | 46 | Paints, Plastics, Pearl Pigment |
Mica - 10 | 80% | 10 micron | 40 | 45 | Paints, Paper, Plastics |
Mica - 15 | 78% | 15 micron | 50 | 42 | Paper, Rubber, Plastics |
Mica - 20 | 76% | 20 micron | 50 | 40 | Rubber, Well-drilling, Building materials |