CONSUMER
INDUSTRIES:
MICA SHEET & FILMS
- Vacuum Tubes
- Capacitors
- Gauge Glass/Liquid
Indicators for
high pressure
steam boilers
- Diaphragm in
oxygen breathing
apparatus
- Head phone &
loud speakers
- Window cover
for microwaves
and stoves
- Radiation Pyrometers
- Geiger counters
- Insulation in
DC Motors and
Generators
- Electrical Heating
appliances
- Lamps and Transformer
Coils
- Retardation
Plates in Helium-Neon
Lasers
- Thermal Regulators
etc.
BOOKFORM/LOOSE
SPLITTINGS
Built Up Mica/Micanite
- For use in segment
plate, molding plate,
flexible plate,
heater plate and
tape etc.
GROUND MICA
TYPICAL
USES AND APPLICATIONS
OF GROUND MICA
GYPSUM WALLBOARD
JOINT CEMENTS
Ground mica is used
as a filler and
extender in gypsum
wallboard joint
compounds to fill
the joints between
panels of wallboards,
as well as in the
finished coating
of ceilings. In
this particular
application, mica
contributes to make
a non-absorbing
smooth surface that
reduces shrinkage
and eliminates cracks.
Mica further provides
a pervasive reinforcing
matrix form of network
of interlocking
thin flakes on to
which cement particles
bond. Ground mica
is also used in
all types of sealers
for porous surfaces,
such as, wallboard
masonry and concrete
slabs to reduce
penetration and
improve holdout.
It permits a thicker
film to be applied
and at the same
time reduces sagging.
Cracking is reduced
by the reinforcing
action of the mica
flakes and gaps
and holes in rough
masonry are bridged
by mica mixed compound
applied.
GYPSUM
WALL BOARD SLABS
& PANELS
Ground
mica is used in
lightweight fire-resistant
prefabricated gypsum
wallboard slabs
and panels in replacement
of asbestos where
thermal insulation
and acoustic qualities
are of particular
importance. These
slabs manufactured
from mixture of
ground mica, gypsum
and cement compounded
in different proportion
after suitable curing
by means of a number
of formulations
are fitted to individual
sections of steel
work according to
suitability in building
constructions. They
could be self finished
and could be plastered
or otherwise treated
to provide a decorative
finish. They possess
excellent characteristics
of high heat conductivity,
super tensile strength,
as well as, low
bulk density. The
compounds are non-combustible,
free flowing, chemically
inert, resilient
and non-abrasive.
They have good thermal
insulation properties
and an excellent
characteristic for
sound absorption.
Low shrinkage and
coefficient of expansion,
good dimensional
stability, extremely
low water absorption
are some of its
additional outstanding
features which make
mica an ideal product
for use in the above
applications.
PAINTS
Mica
is extensively used
as a pigment extender
in various paints,
namely, emulsion
or synthetic water
paints, exterior
paints, anti-corrosive
paints, aluminum
paints, marine paints,
oil based metal
primers etc. Mica
acts as a reinforcing
pigment to reduce
checking and cracking
while at the same
time controls chalking
in outside latex,
oleo resinous, alkyd,
and alkyd-modified
latex exterior paints.
It also reduces
penetration into
porous surfaces
while providing
excellent adhesion.
In addition, mica
reduces running,
sagging, improves
weather ability
and brush ability.
It easily disperses
in liquid/solid
coating systems.
It mechanically
reinforces paint
film and imparts
greater resistance
to electricity,
heat, light, moisture
and chemicals. The
overlapping layers
of mica platelets
form a tough shield
that improves paint
integrity and durability.
It increases resistance
to water penetration,
at the same time
brightens the tone
of the colored pigments.
Mica is also used
as an extender and
filter in certain
texture and traffic
paints. Not only
does its inclusion
mean a greater saving
in cost by replacing
more expensive pigments,
but it also enhances
certain essential
paint properties.
Mica particles are
stronger than iron
and are not brittle
like other inert
materials. Finely
ground mica particles
reinforce a protective
coating in almost
the same way that
steel rods reinforce
concrete or glass
is reinforced by
wire. It is an anti-friction,
anti-fouling, anti-settling,
anti corrosive,
anti-tarnish and
anti-siege agent
It is a superior
reinforcing pigment
that acts as a sealer
over porous surfaces
and reduces penetration
and flushing. Moreover,
it improves the
moisture resistance
of protective coatings
and their adhesion
to all types of
surfaces.
Mica
is also one of the
most inert substances.
Thus it helps protect
the paint coating
against acid and
alkali attacks from
deterioration due
to heat or sunrays
from atmospheric
gases and moisture.
It also decreases
blistering and staining
from the substrates.
PLASTICS
Mica,
due to its highly
delaminated flake
structure, is suitably
used in large proportion
as non-asbestos
fillers that provide
reinforcement and
improve physical
properties of the
mica-plastic composites.
Mica improves material
properties of plastic
composites significantly.
Addition of mica
results in higher
heat distortion
temperature, increased
flexural modulus,
increased flexural
strength, reduced
shrinkage, better
chemical resistance,
reduced permeability,
better dielectric
properties and better
surface properties
to plastic composites.
As a rigid flake,
mica provides mechanical
reinforcement along
a plane rather than
a single axis as
in the case of a
glass fiber. It
is particularly
used in thermoplastic
polymers, e.g. PP,
PST, PET, HDPE,
ABS and Nylon 6/6,
thermosets and elastomers
plastic compounds.
AUTOMOTIVE
PLASTICS
Some
of the latest research
and testing have
resulted in extensive
use of mica in place
of asbestos in acoustic
compounds in automotive
plastics that change
vibrations and control
noise. It is used
in air condition
fan blades, dashboard
panels, head lamp
assemblies, fan
shrouds and floor
flake to strengthen
lightweight plastic
seat backs, load
floors, grill panels,
ignition system
parts, and air condition
and heater valve
housings. Automakers
throughout are now
encouraged to apply
increasing quantities
of mica in acoustic
compounds that changes
vibrations and eliminate
road and engine
noise which are
fine examples of
mica filled polypropylene
products found in
automobiles.
RUBBER
TYRES
Mica
is used in rubber
tyres and other
products as anti-sticking
and anti-friction
compounds between
the inner rubber
and castings of
rubber tyres used
in airplanes, automobiles
and motor bikes.
It is used as a
dusting and releasing
agent, as well as,
inner filler to
reduce gas penetration
and shrinkage during
molding. The use
of mica permits
adhesion of rubber
compounds to the
cores and other
sheathes during
vulcanization. It
permits air and
moisture to escape
during curing and
helps create a uniform
pore structure that
leads to improved
resiliency.
WELDING
ELECTRODES
Mica
is used as a flux
coating on mild
steel rutile (titandioxide)
based welding electrodes
as a lagging compound.
The mica coating
provides two distinct
types of protection
to the welding electrodes:
1) it serves in
forming a fusible
slag and a good
seal at the fusion
zone on the arc,
2) it resists the
action of heat,
gaseous and other
surrounding atmospheric
oxidation. Nothing
can substitute mica
for the above application.
In fact it is the
nature of mica coating
that largely determines
the quality of a
welding electrode.
OIL WELL
DRILLING
Mica
is used as an effective
mud additive in
water based oil
well drilling operations
to prevent loss
of circulation and
seepage in loose
formations. The
coarsely ground
mica flakes act
as a sealant and
bridge the openings
by sealing porous
sections of the
drilling hole. It
helps to keep the
solids in suspension.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Mica
is used as a surface
coating to prevent
sticking in asphalt
roofing felts and
shingles; as an
ingredient in special
axle greases for
railway wagons;
as a boiler and
steam pipe lagging
compound to provide
heat insulating
properties; as a
coating for foundry
cores and mould
release compounds
in metal castings;
as an absorbent
in explosives and
disinfectant automotive
components; as a
thermal insulation
to refractory bricks,
slabs and tiles;
in cosmetic products
to provide a pearly
luster and glittering
effects; as a filler
in magazine papers
to provide higher
stiffens, lower
density and higher
permeability; as
a 'flux' in porcelain
and ceramic wares
to add plasticity
analogues in the
clay; as an additive
in special printing
inks to obtain consistency;
as a decorative
coating in wallpapers
to provide luster
effects and glittering
etc. |
