What is Mica

Hello sir I would like to know the uses of Mica in various fields so please provide me suitable information about this mineral.

[Kiran Chandar]

Mica is a natural occurring mineral that is based on a collection of silicate minerals and composed of varying amounts of potassium, iron, aluminum, magnesium and water.

Classification

For commercial and industrial purpose natural mica are mainly divided into three catagories,viz :

1. Processed Mica

2. Fabricated Mica

3. Manufactured Mica

Processed Mica is fundamentally a natural sheet mica of an irregular size and polygonal shapes

Fabricated Mica is basically a natural sheet mica cut, stamped or punched to specified size, shape and thickness

Manufactured Mica means mica-based products manufactured from natural mica, such as, Micanite or built-up Mica.

Uses of mica

It is used in paints as a pigment extender and also helps to brighten the tone of colored pigments

In the electrical industry the same as thermal insulation, and electrical insulators in electronic equipment

Its shiny and glittery appearance makes it ultimate for toothpaste and cosmetics

The high thermal resistance allows it to be used as an insulator in various electronics

Properties of Mica

Mica belongs to a very important and rather large group of minerals that are highly suitable for several applications.

1. Physical: Mica is translucent, easily split into thin films along its cleavage, optically flat, colorless in thin sheets, elastic and incompressible.

2. Chemical: It is a compound hydrous silicate of aluminum, which also contains iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium fluorine, lithium and also few traces of numerous other elements.

3. Electrical: Mica has the exclusive combination of uniform dielectric steadiness, capacitance stability, enormous dielectric power, high Q factor and lower power loss, high electrical resistance and low temperature coefficient.

4. Thermal: It is highly fire proof, incombustible, non- flammable, infusible.

5. Mechanical: Mica is highly tough, having high tensile strength, elastic, and along with being flexible.