What is Mica Powder and why is it useful ?

Mica powders are minerals that are found in different types of rock. Mica powder is refined mica and is most commonly supplied in the form of shiny powder and glittery flakes.

They can be white in appearance and these white mica powders may also have interference effects which means that they reflect a colour tint when viewed at different angles.

Mica powders are also supplied in a variety of different colours across the colour spectrum.

Where does mica powder come from ?

Mica powder is derived primarily from two sources – Muscovite is the main source of mica. Most mica is produced in China, Belgium, Brazil and India.

It comes from rocks and is found in the form of thin transparent sheets.

These thin sheets were used to make glass panes in the 1700’s.

These muscovite sheets although transparent have a slight green, brown or pink hue.

The mica is mined from the earth along with unwanted debris/dirt. This debris is removed during the refining process.

The mica is then sorted into different particle sizes from very small 5 microns to sizes as large as 700 microns. Fluorphlogopite is a synthetic form of mica which is produced in a laboratory and also used as a bulking agent in cosmetic products..

It lacks the colour tints of natural mica which is beneficial.

Synthetic mica (flourphlogopite) is paler in appearance compared to natural mica.

Because of this white and bright base inherent to fluorphlogopite the final products that are produced with it are brighter enhancing the colour effects added later.

How is the finished mica coloured and coated ?

Once the mica is refined or produced it is then coated with an oxide layer and or additional pigments. These can include titanium dioxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide and ultramarine pigments and dyes. This gives the final colour shades.

So what are the benefits and problems of using micas for the artist or crafter?

Well, as you can imagine using mica in your projects have their pros and cons. So here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of mica powder for the crafter.

Advantages of using mica powder

• Mica powders have very good light stability i.e they take a long time to fade and lose their colour and if kept in a cool, dry and dark atmosphere have an indefinite shelf life.
• Any colour you can think of they will be available providing lots of colour choices for the creators and their customers and clients..
• They are excellent value for money and much cheaper and more widespread than other pearlescent colourants such as Bismuth oxychloride.

Disadvantages of using mica powder

• Mica powders and flakes are quite fragile so they must be handled with care especially larger flakes when mixed into other mediums.
• Compared to other pearlescent such as bismuth oxychloride mica powder does not posses the same level of coverage at the same particle size. As particle size increases the pearlescent and shiny effects of mica increase. However as particle size increases coverage decreases. At large particle sizes mica powder is best utilised for its glittery effects.