Mica is a very common rock-forming mineral, widely distributed in crystalline rocks. Its general chemical formula can be expressed as:
* Biotite A dark, iron-rich mica, biotite has a significant presence in igneous rocks. While it shares many similarities with muscovite, biotite is not as widely used in industrial applications, primarily due to its darker color and lower dielectric properties.
It is an indispensable and important raw material in the fields of electric heating equipment, wire and cable, aerospace and so on.
Take pearlescent pigments as an example, pearlescent pigments are a class of pigments with pearl luster, which are deposited on the substrate (generally natural mica, synthetic mica, glass sheet and other sheet-like materials) above a layer or alternately deposited multiple layers of metal oxides or non-metallic oxides and formed a flat sandwich body with a structure similar to sandwich. Due to the difference in refractive index between the substrate and the oxide deposited on its surface and each oxide, when the light shines on the surface of the pearlescent pigment, the incident light will be refracted and reflected at the interface of each layer of the pearlescent pigment, and the color of the pearlescent pigment that people see is the result of the superposition of light after multiple refractions and reflections of the light, that is, the interference phenomenon of light.
In short, there are significant differences between natural mica powder and synthetic mica powder in production methods, color and appearance, performance characteristics, application fields, and price and cost. Synthetic mica powder is superior to natural mica powder in terms of high temperature resistance, transparency, electrical insulation, stability and mechanical properties, while natural mica powder has more advantages in resource acquisition, cost and color. When choosing which type of mica powder to use, you can consider the high temperature resistance of the required material, electrical insulation performance, transparency and color requirements, evaluate the mechanical strength and hardness of the required material, consider chemical stability and other different application scenarios and technical requirements to make a reasonable choice.
For businesses needing mica, partnering with Chinese suppliers offers a competitive advantage, tapping into a wealth of resources and expertise that few can rival globally. As the world continues to evolve technologically, China's strategic approach to mica production ensures it remains a cornerstone of industrial progress and economic development.