NATURAL MICA:
The mica group is a group of naturally occurring minerals. They represents 37 phyllosilicate minerals that have a layered or platy texture. The commercially important micas are muscovite and phlogopite, which are used in a variety of applications.
There are 37 different natural mica minerals. The most common include: clear muscovite, brown phlogopite, black biotite and sericite. From processing technic, it can be divided into dry ground mica and wet ground mica.
SYNTHETIC MICA:
Synthetic Mica is the name generally used for a range of glistening pigments – blended together creating Sparkly color in other products.
Synthetic mica aims to replicate the effect and appearance of the Natural Mica, whilst alleviating the negative or toxic minerals that can be found in some naturally occurring minerals. Synthetic Mica may produce more vivid colors and actually be brighter than than naturally occurring mica. A skin added bonus is that synthetic Mica does not contain any sharp edges that may microscopically tear or damage the skin.
They can be used in soap making. Bathing Crystals, bath bombs or make up.
Natural Mica vs Synthetic Mica
Synthetic mica is made in a lab and has the same characteristics as natural mica. The differences between natural and synthetic mica are:
- The color: Synthetic Mica produce more vivid colours and actually be brighter than naturally occurring mica. Natural mica can be grey or murkier in color. They each create different effects and colors.
- Shape: natural mica naturally has uneven edges, whereas synthetic mica has a very smooth surface and shape. This means you can use a much larger particle of synthetic mica since it’s smooth and not abrasive like natural mica. The larger the particle, the sparklier a product will appear.
- The sourcing: synthetic mica requires no mining and has no potential for child labor.
- Contamination: natural mica has the potential for contamination with heavy metals and other impurities. Heavy metal levels can be tested before usage in a formula, but this is voluntary and not all brands do
Comparison Between Synthetic and Natural Mica
| Synthetic mica | Natural mica | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality consistency | Synthetic mica is synthesized by internal heat. All the raw materials for each batch and the formula can be controlled, which guarantees the quality consistency of each batch. | Due to the mine is formed for millions of years, the quality of each mica mine is quite different. Even though in a same mine, the quality is hard to keep consistency. Thus, the quality of each batch is different. |
| Radiation | Synthetic mica is synthesized artificially so that it is free from natural radiation. | Most of ores are more or less with radiation as the mine was formed through millions of years. |
| Purity | Synthetic mica is a crystallized combination produced according to formula. The raw materials are by severe screening, which guarantees the high purity. | The mica is formed by natural powder so that it is with many mineral impurities. Meanwhile, it gets pollution during mining. The purity is much less than synthetic mica. |
| Heavy metal content | Synthetic mica is nearly free from heavy metal. | Natural mica is with many harmful heavy metal to human health. |
| Appearance | Smooth surface. High whiteness(>92). | It has worse surface smoothness and looks grey. The whiteness is about 60 – 80. |
| Heat-resistance | The melting point of synthetic mica reaches（1350±5）℃. | Generally at 200 ℃, the layers start to stratify and the color changed. |
| Electric property | Dielectric strength: 185-238 kV/mm | Dielectric strength: 115-140 kV/mm |
| Insulation property | Surface resistance: 3×1013 Ω | Surface resistance: 1×1011 Ω |
| Tensile strength | 150 Mpa | 110 – 140 Mpa |
| （OH）Bond | Synthetic mica is OH Bond free. It is not like the natural mica would release harmful hydrogen to steels. Thus, it can be used to antirust metal products. | |
| Optically transparent rate | Synthetic mica crystal is colorless and transparent that has better optically transparent property against infrared and ultraviolet radiation than natural mica does. So the synthetic mica based pearl pigment is quality. |
Comparison of Some Parameters
| Unit | Synthetic mica | Phlogopite | Muscovite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | g/cm3 | 2,8 | 2,6 – 3,2 | 2,6 – 3,2 |
| Dielectric strength | kV/mm | ~ 180 | 115 – 140 | 120 – 200 |
| Volume resistivity | Ω.cm | (3-6)×1015 | 1012-1014 | 1013-1017 |
| Surface resistivity | Ω | 3×1013 | 1010-1014 | 1011-1012 |
| Dielectric constant | ε | ~ 6 | 5,0 – 6,0 | 6,0 – 7,0 |
| Dielectric loss | tg δ | 3 × 10-4 | (10-50)×10-4 | (1- 4)×10-4 |
| Tensile strength | kg/cm2 | ~1500 | ~ 1000 | ~ 1750 |
| Water absorption | % | 0,14 | 2,7 | 2,2 |
| Moisture absorption rate | % | 0,04 | 0,24 | 0,18 |
| Heat resistance | ℃ | > 1100 | 600 – 650 | 350 – 450 |
Performance Comparisons
1. Electric Performance
- The fluorphlogopite mica, because of its purity, has high body resistivity (1000 times higher than natural mica) and can be safely used at the temperature up to 1100°C.
- Natural mica, due to its impurity, has unstable electric performance, especially at high temperature and high frequency. When above 500°C, it will gradually lose the characteristics of original because of dehydration.
2. Performance of Vacuum Deflation
- The vacuum deflation of fluorphlogopite mica is low, and only the absorbed gases such as O2 , N2 and Ar are detected by a mass spectrograph. As no vapor of H2O is emitted, it is recommendable as electric vacuum insulant with the vacuum components’ service life greatly prolonged.
- The natural mica gives off H2O and other volatiles, hence large vacuum deflation, 2000 times higher than fluorphlogopite mica at 900°C.
3. Physical Performance
Fluorphlogopite mica is not inclined to distortion and can bear big stress, tension and compression.
4. Heat-resistance Performance
- Fluorphlogopite mica has superior thermal stability. It can be used up to 1100℃ with its thickness almost unchanged, and will decompose gradually at 1200℃. Its melting or crystallization temperature is (1350±5)℃.
- Natural mica, as containing (OH) -, tends to be agravic at 200℃, and begins to decompose above 450℃ while thickening, severely agravic above 600°C and almost completely decomposing at 900°C. Therefore, the use of natural mica is restricted. Synthetic mica is therefore recommended for high temperature applications up to 1100 ℃. It can also work in sub-zero temperatures to – 100 ℃.
5. Optical Performance
- Fluorphlogopite mica, because of its small impurity, it has good photopenetrativity from ultraviolet to infrared. Ultraviolet almost cannot penetrate natural mica, but can penetrate fluorphlogopite mica by nearly 0.2 microns.
- The natural mica has a distinct absorption peak at 2.75 microns, while fluorphlogopite mica has not, which is an important indication that fluorine replaces hydroxyl. So we can conclude that fluorphlogopite mica is a sort of good euphotic material from ultraviolet (0.2 microns) to infrared (4.5 microns).
Mica Manufacturer & Wholesaler
MiningValleys Mica Factory is located under Lubai Mountain in Lingshou county, which is famous for its rich non-metallic minerals especially mica mineral. We have been engaged in manufacturing and providing mica products for more than 17 years. As a professional mica products manufacturer and provider, we have a full range of mica products, including white mica, black mica, gold mica, mica sheet, mica shield, mica flakes, mica powder, and so on. For agent and wholesaler you just seeking for high-quality and cost-effective mica products, don’t hesitate to contact us to quote for the latest price via contact@miningvalleys.com, or via the form as below.
