Mica Powders

The common minerals in the mica group include biotite, muscovite, phlogopite, lepidolite, sericite, etc.  Muscovite is colorless, transparent, or pale; biotite is black to dark brown, dark green, and other colors; phlogopite appears yellow, brown, green, or colorless; lepidolite is pale purple, rose red to gray in color.

Mica powder can be used as a soap colorant and as a transparent soap base to provide shiny color vitality. Besides giving soap the different colors we need, it can also have different cleansing and nourishing effects. Moreover, mica powder is not absorbed by the skin and leaves no trace on the skin.  

As a layered silicate, the structure of mica powder is a complex silica-oxygen layer consisting of two layers of silica-oxygen tetrahedra sandwiched by a layer of aluminum-oxygen octahedra. When fully cleaved, it can be cleaved into extremely thin sheets with a thickness of up to 1 μm (theoretically, it can be cleaved to 0.001μm). It has a large diameter-thickness ratio, with good elasticity and toughness. Its insulation, high-temperature resistance, acid and alkali resistance, corrosion resistance, and strong adhesion make it an excellent additive.

The difference between mica powder and pearlescent powder is as follows:

1. Different colors: In sunlight, mica powder appears slightly off-white, while pearlescent powder displays a silver-white sheen.
2. Different composition: Mica powder is a powder of mica materials, while pearlescent powder is a blend of mica and metallic aluminum pigments.
3. Different effects: Mica powder provides a delicate and soft sensation, while pearlescent powder provides a dazzling sensation.
4. Different hoods Mica powder fits into a hood with a 10cm diameter, while pearlescent powder fits into a hood with a 5cm diameter.
5. Different glues: The glue utilized for mica powder is standard glue, whereas the glue for pearlescent powder is AB glue.
6. Different applications: Mica powder finds application mostly in home decoration, like TV background walls, stone backgrounds, and large murals. Pearlescent powder, on the other hand, is predominantly used in handicraft factories, such as with UV printers.

Mica powder has excellent compatibility and can be mixed with many materials:

1. Mica powder mixed into mineral wool resin and coating can serve as a decorative option for exterior walls made of concrete, stone, or brick. It is widely used in building exterior wall coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, powder coatings, high-temperature resistant coatings, insulation coatings, waterproof coatings, road sign coatings, radiation resistant coatings, and various specialized coatings such as ship coatings, spacecraft thermal control coatings, and food container coatings.

2. When mica is used as a filler in polymer materials such as polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, etc., the tensile strength, tear strength, and Shore hardness of the resulting composite materials have been improved to various degrees. The engineering plastic made by combining mica with either thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin is widely used.

3. With its unique sheet-like structure, silky luster, and smooth texture, makeup-grade mica powder creates makeup powder that feels as light and delicate as silk. Its natural texture provides excellent skin affinity and can achieve a luxurious and beautiful effect, giving cosmetics a soft touch, gentle sheen, excellent adhesion, and strong skin hold. It can be combined with other cosmetic materials to create high-end beauty products.

4. Mica powder and alumina as the main raw materials, mixed with barium fluoride and calcium fluoride additives, can be made into mica ceramics with a flexural strength of 160MPa. In addition to preserving its inherent characteristics, mica ceramics possess excellent processability. More crucially, they exhibit a substantially enhanced flexural strength, leading to superior usability.

Mica powder must be packaged using eco-friendly materials and stored in properly designated areas. It should be kept in a dry, well-ventilated, and cool environment, avoiding any moisture, high temperatures, direct sunlight, or similar factors. During transportation and storage, it is important to take measures to ensure safety, such as preventing moisture, fire, and explosions. Additionally, handling with care is necessary to avoid any damage to the packaging.

Mica dust is frequently generated in industries such as construction, electronics, and chemical engineering. Long-term exposure to mica dust can be hazardous to health.

Mica dust hazards

Respiratory irritation: Long-term exposure to mica dust may irritate the respiratory system, causing symptoms like coughing and wheezing.

Skin irritation: Mica dust can cause allergic reactions on the skin, such as dryness and itching.

Eye irritation: Mica dust entering the eyes may result in discomfort, such as itching and tingling.

Cancer risk: The asbestos fibers in mica dust are known carcinogens. Long-term exposure to mica dust can lead to malignant tumors, such as lung cancer.

Protective methods

Forced ventilation: In mica dust environments, ensure proper ventilation by using mechanical ventilation or fresh air systems.

Wear protective equipment: Wear full protective equipment, including masks, gloves, coveralls, etc., to effectively reduce the hazards of exposure to mica dust environments.

Wet cleaning: Clean with a damp cloth to effectively reduce the generation and diffusion of mica dust.

Avoid mica dust dispersing: Store contaminated mica dust in sealed containers to prevent it from dispersing into the surrounding environment.

Maintain the machine regularly: Regularly maintain and repair the machinery and equipment to ensure their proper operation and reduce the chance of generating mica dust.

Training and education: Organize workers involved in mica dust operations to accept training on safety awareness and protective measures to enhance their understanding of and ability to prevent dangers related to mica dust exposure.

For protection against mica dust, enhance employees’ safety awareness and preventive consciousness through training and education in addition to requiring them to wear protective equipment and implement on-site measures. In this way, we can ensure the physical health of workers to the greatest extent and promote safe production operations.