Appearance
Flakes or powder
Origins
Mica is found in many regions of the world in the form of pegmatite rock and mica schist.
Applications
The flexibility of mica flakes together with its high aspect ratio provides beneficial properties in both polymer and cementicious systems. In plastics mica increases rigidity, maximum working temperatures and dimensional stability. In cementicious systems, mica prevents shrinkage and cracking - vital characteristics in fire protection boards and coatings.
Mica reinforces surface coatings and prevents cracking in marine, industrial and decorative formulations. Automotive products, fire extinguishers, fire protection coatings and welding rods all utilise the combined properties of this fascinating mineral.
Important properties
Micas are characterised by a sheet or plate like structure which because of its excellent basal cleavage enables particles of high aspect ratio to be produced. These lamellar particles are flexible, tough, relatively soft, have a low co-efficient of thermal expansion, exceptional electrical properties and excellent chemical resistance.