About MICA
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals include several closely related materials having nearly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition.
Mica is a collection of silicate minerals having amounts of aluminium, iron, magnesium, potassium and water.
Properties of Mica
Mica possess some of the most exceptional and outstanding blend of properties rarely found in any other product thus commanding a unique position
- CHEMICAL COMPOSITION of Muscovite Mica
- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of Muscovite Mica
- TECHNICAL PROPERTIES of Muscovite Mica
| Silica (SiO2) | 45.70% |
| Alumina (Al2 O3) | 33.10% |
| Potassium Oxide (K20) | 09.87% |
| Potassium Oxide (K20) | 02.48% |
| Sodium Oxide (Na20) | 00.62% |
| Titatnium Oxide (TiO2) | 45.70% |
| Calcium Oxide (CaO) | 00.21% |
| Magnesia (MgO) | 00.38% |
| Moisture @ 100°C | 00.25% |
| Phospohorous (P) | 00.03% |
| Sulphur(S) | 00.01% |
| Graphitic Carbon (C) | 00.44% |
| Loss on ignition (H2O) | 02.74% |
Properties |
Units |
|---|---|
| BS 3483 | 100g Mica |
| Effect by common acids | Slight |
| Hardness (moh’s scale) | 2.5 |
| Index of refraction | 1.58 |
| Softening point | 2800°F |
| Oil absorbtion | 60-90 g/oil |
| Specific gravity | 2.82 |
| Water-soluble | Not more |
| BS (1765) | Than 0.5% |
| pH value (BS 3483) | 7.7 |
| Phericity factor | 0.01 |
| pH for distilled water | 5.2 |
| Character | White, often sheds tiny flakes |
| Lustre | Pearly to vitreous |
| Appearance | Transparent to translucent |
Properties |
Units |
Muscovite |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity perpendicular to cleavage plane |
Gm.cal/sec/cm2/°C/cm BTU/hr/ft2/0f/ft |
about 0.0013 about 0.31 |
| Thermal conductivity parallel to cleavage plane |
Gm.cal/sec/cm2/°C/cm BTU/hr/ft2/0f/ft |
|
| Water of Constitution % | — | 4.5 |
| Moisture Absorption | — | Very low |
| Volume Resistivity | 25°C (77°F) ohm cm | 40 x 1013 – 2 x 1017 |
| Acid Reaction | — | affected by hydrofluoric acid |
| Insulation Resistance | x1013ohm/cm | 4-20000 |
| Calcining temp | °C | 700-800 |
| Max. operating temp | °C | 500-600 |
| Tensile strength | MN/m2 | 175 |
| Shear strength | MN/m2 | 175 |
| Compression Strength | MN/m2 | 220-270 |
| Modulus of Elasticity | Kgfcm2 x 10-3
lbf/in2 x 10-3 |
1400 – 2100
20-30 |
| Loss tangent | x10-4 | 1-4 |
| Permittivity at 15°C(60°F) | — | 6-7 |
Mechanical Properties
Mica is extremely tough and possesses intense tensile strength, elasticity and flexibility. Under immense pressure, this element can be given customized shape for desired usage through manual or machine-based molding.
Thermal Properties
Mica has the power of resisting temperatures up to 1000 degrees Celsius or 1832 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, this property makes it a highly heat resistant element that has lower heat conductivity. Exposure to any high temperature environment makes no to little visible effect.
Electrical Properties
Mica has an enormous dielectric power and performs steadily in any critical situation. It has the property of lower power loss and is coefficient with low temperature. It does not incur any lasting injury during any electrical anomaly.
Chemical Properties
Mica consists of traces of many elements like iron, magnesium, potassium, lithium, sodium fluorine and is also a hydrous silicate of aluminium. These properties make Mica a neutral medium against any reaction of alkalines, solvents, oil, bases and even atmosphere.
Physical Properties
Due to its tensile strength and flexibility, Mica can be segregated into thin fragments that are elastic, translucent flat and incompressible.