The Ethical Concerns
The mica variety that does not contain iron is colorless in flakes, and the higher the iron content, the darker the color, and the more polychromatic and absorbable it is. According to the different chemical composition and optical characteristics, mica group minerals can be divided into Muscovite subgroup, biotite-phlogopite subgroup and lemica subgroup. The common mica are biotite, phlogopite, Muscovite and so on.
As the beauty industry continues to evolve, the shift toward synthetic mica underscores a broader movement towards sustainability and ethical practices. By embracing synthetic alternatives, brands can provide consumers with products that not only enhance beauty but also uphold social responsibility. As awareness of the impacts of natural mica mining grows, it is clear that synthetic mica is poised to become a staple ingredient in the makeup world, promoting a brighter and more sustainable future for cosmetics. With ongoing innovations and an increasing focus on ethical sourcing, the future of makeup is indeed sparkling with potential.
Mica is a new non-metallic crystal material, a national key new material, with heat insulation, insulation, high temperature resistance characteristics, is an important material in aerospace, rail transit, nuclear power, wind power, aircraft carriers and other high-tech fields, but also electrical equipment, wire and cable, household appliances indispensable insulation material, in the national economy and national defense construction plays an important role.
The common characteristics of mica group minerals are: layered silicate minerals, monoclinic crystal system, a few trigonal crystal system, the crystals are pseudo-hexagonal columnar, plate and sheet; The aggregate is scaly and foliaceous. It has a set of extremely complete cleavage, along which it is easy to peel into sheets. Therefore, the shape of mica is usually regarded as sheet.
What are the uses of mica
Layer upon layer of mica
A group of parallel cleavages can be seen in a photograph of biomica under orthogonal polarized (left) and single polarized (right) mirrors.
The rapid development of new energy vehicles, batteries and other emerging industries also provides a new application scenario for mica products, such as power battery modules and energy storage system of mica cover plate, mica partition, mica monitoring board and composite mica tape and other products, the application of mica provides the industry with a fire safety solution.
In the world of cosmetics and arts, mica powder has emerged as a quintessential ingredient that bridges the gap between nature and creativity. Renowned for its shimmering and lustrous properties, mica powder is a natural mineral that has caught the attention of many industries, ranging from cosmetics to pottery and painting. This versatile substance not only serves aesthetic purposes but is also celebrated for its natural origin, making it a popular choice among environmentally-conscious consumers.
X represents large interlayer cations, such as K+, Na+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Rb+, Cs+, etc. Y represents octahedral cations, such as Al3+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Cr3+, Ti4+, Fe3+, etc. Z is mainly Si4+ and Al3+; The ideal ratio of the additional anion (OH)- to (O)2- is 2:10, and (OH)- can be replaced by F- and Cl-. Most mica contain 4% to 5% water. Therefore, although they may be called mica, the chemical composition of different mica may be very different, for the purpose of research, we collectively refer to the minerals with this type of characteristics as mica group minerals.
Mica is a new non-metallic crystal material, a national key new material, with heat insulation, insulation, high temperature resistance characteristics, is an important material in aerospace, rail transit, nuclear power, wind power, aircraft carriers and other high-tech fields, but also electrical equipment, wire and cable, household appliances indispensable insulation material, in the national economy and national defense construction plays an important role.
X represents large interlayer cations, such as K+, Na+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Rb+, Cs+, etc. Y represents octahedral cations, such as Al3+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Cr3+, Ti4+, Fe3+, etc. Z is mainly Si4+ and Al3+; The ideal ratio of the additional anion (OH)- to (O)2- is 2:10, and (OH)- can be replaced by F- and Cl-. Most mica contain 4% to 5% water. Therefore, although they may be called mica, the chemical composition of different mica may be very different, for the purpose of research, we collectively refer to the minerals with this type of characteristics as mica group minerals.
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.
Later, with the development of science and technology, people gradually realized that mica minerals have high insulation, high temperature resistance, strong acid and alkali resistance, and mica also began to enter building materials, fire, plastics, paper, rubber, pearlite pigments and other industries. These are mainly Muscovite and phlogopite.
In 2022, Lingshou Huajing Mica Co., Ltd. launched cosmetic grade mica powder. The flake structure of mica powder can lock the water on the surface of the skin, forming a protective film to effectively prevent water loss. Its unique gloss and reflection effect add natural and charming luster to the skin, and mica powder also has a certain sunscreen effect. To a certain extent, it can reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays on the skin, protect the skin from the external environment, and prevent sunburn.