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.

Despite the many advantages of mica pigments, their use in cosmetics has raised ethical concerns due to the mining practices involved in extracting the mineral. Much of the mica used in the cosmetic industry is sourced from regions where labor practices are problematic, including child labor and unsafe working conditions.

What are the uses of mica

Pearlescent pigments are fine powders that reflect light in multiple wavelengths, creating a shimmering effect reminiscent of natural pearls. Their unique structure allows them to scatter light, which results in a fascinating play of colors that change depending on the angle of the light and the viewer's perspective. These pigments can be derived from natural sources, such as mica, or created synthetically, with the latter often offering enhanced stability and a broader range of color options.

In addition, lepidolite and ferrolepidolite can also be used as mineral raw materials for extracting lithium.

A group of parallel cleavages can be seen in a photograph of biomica under orthogonal polarized (left) and single polarized (right) mirrors.

Production Process

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.

Natural mica powder and synthetic mica powder also have great differences in electrical insulation, mechanical properties, chemical stability, application range and cost. Natural mica powder has good electrical insulation, but the volume resistivity is lower than that of synthetic mica. Synthetic mica powder has better electrical insulation properties, high volume resistivity and stable dielectric constant, and is suitable for high performance electrical insulation materials. The hardness of natural mica powder is relatively low (2-3), and it has good elasticity and peeling property. The hardness of synthetic mica powder is higher (between 3 and 4), and the tensile strength and compressive strength are better than that of natural mica powder. Natural mica powder is stable in acid-base solution, but it is easy to decompose at high temperature. Synthetic mica powder is stable to acid and base at room temperature, but will be slowly corroded by sulfuric acid above 300℃. Better thermal stability, not easy to release gas. Natural mica powder is widely used in electrical appliances, welding rods, rubber, plastics, paper making, paint and other fields. Synthetic mica powder is mainly used in high-end electrical insulation materials, aviation, aerospace, national defense industry and other high-tech fields. Because synthetic mica powder needs to be produced through complex chemical processes, its production cost is usually higher than that of natural mica powder. Therefore, in the market, the price of synthetic mica powder is often higher than that of natural mica powder. However, with the continuous progress of production technology and the gradual emergence of scale effects, the price of synthetic mica powder is expected to gradually decrease.

In addition to cosmetics, synthetic mica is also utilized in the electronics industry. Its excellent dielectric properties make it an ideal insulating material for capacitors and other electronic components. The consistent quality of synthetic mica ensures reliability in electronic applications, which is crucial for modern technology.

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.