PRODUCT: MUSCOVITE & PHLOGOPITE MICA
Muscovite Mica is a phyllosilicate mineral of aluminium and potassium with formula KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2, or (KF)2(Al2O3)3(SiO2)6(H2O). It has a highly-perfect basal cleavage yielding remarkably-thin lamellar (sheets) which are often highly elastic. Sheets of muscovite 5 metres by 3 metres have been found in Nellore, India.[5]
Muscovite has a Mohs hardness of 2–2.25 parallel to the [001] face, 4 perpendicular to the [001] and a specific gravity of 2.76–3. It can be colorless or tinted through grays, browns, greens, yellows, or (rarely) violet or red, and can be transparent or translucent. The green, chromium-rich variety is called fuchsite.
Muscovite is the most common mica, found in granites, pegmatites, gneisses, and schists, and as a contact metamorphic rock or as a secondary mineral resulting from the alteration of topaz, feldspar, kyanite, etc. In pegmatites, it is often found in immense sheets that are commercially valuable. Muscovite is in demand for the manufacture of fireproofing and insulating materials and to some extent as a lubricant.
The name of muscovite comes from Muscovy-glass, a name formerly used for the mineral because of its use in Russia for windows. It is anisotropic and has high birefringence. Its crystal system is monoclinic.
Phlogopite Mica is a yellow, greenish, or reddish-brown member of the mica family of phyllosilicates. It is also known as magnesium mica.
Phlogopite is the magnesium endmember of the biotite solid solution series, with the chemical formula KMg3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2, or (KF)2(MgO)6(Al2O3)(SiO2)6(H2O)2. For physical and optical identification, it shares most of the characteristic properties of the more-common biotite, but lighter with a hint of olive green.
They are widely used as performance filler in:
- Automotive interior
- Engineering plastics
- Engine cover
- Power tool housings
- High Barrier Packaging film
- Electrical insulation
Their main advantages in Polymers are:
- Improved surface appearance
- Mechanical properties (reinforcement)
- High heat resistance
- Electrical insulation
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Light fastness
- UV Absorption
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