Our ProductsSericite Mica
Malaysia mined sericite is a natural fine grained mineral belonging to the mica group. Sericite is a fine grained mica, similar to muscovite and illite belonging to a group of natural occurring minerals. Formation of sericite is through the alteration of feldspars mineral in areas that have been subjected to hydrothermal alteration typically associated with copper, tin, or other hydrothermal ore deposits. It is a hydrated potassium alumina silicate with similar mineral composition and structure to kaolin. Hence, it has the characteristic of mica as well as clay mineral with SG about 2.6- 2.9. This unique Malaysian sericite has excellent smoothness with a very fine particle size. It can also be opalescent or completely matte.The addition of Titanium dioxide and iron oxides to mica is what brings the vast variety of colors available.
The crude fine clayare recovered from the ground by excavating itafter taking off the overburden which varies in terms of the different location. They are then further processed to various sizes of ground mica powder either through the wet or dry process.
Mica is used in industrial applications such as paints and in cosmetic applications, mould lubricant in the rubber industry, fluxing agent in welding electrodes and reinforcement in plastics.
It has been widely used in colour cosmetic products ranging from compact foundation to lipsticks by major leading brands in the cosmetics industry over the last 20 years. Sericite improves smoothness and adhesion to the skin so that make up can be worn longer without flaking and creasing.It gives consistency to colours with its relative transparency, making it applicable to all shades and adds a soft translucent sheen to the final product.
The Scanning Electron Microscope Pictures shows that it has the flakes, large aspect ratio, and smooth surface and is very fine powder.
Scanning Electron Microscope Pictures
Properties
INCI Name : Mica
Chemical Structure :
K0.5-1.0 (Al,Fe,Mg)2(SiAl)4O10 (OH)2
It has good elasticity, easy curving , good wear and tear resistance, good heat resistance of up to 500 °C, electrical insulation properties 200kv/Mm, anti radioactive and difficult to dissolve in acid or alkali solution which makes it very inert.
Typical Specifications
| Silica (SiO2) | 45- 55% |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | 26 – 36% |
| Potassium (K2O) | > 8% |
| Ignition Loss | < 6% |
| Iron (Fe2O3) | < 2.6% |
| Magnesium (MgO) | < 2% |
Untreated Sericite Mica
Untreated sericite mica (usually just called sericite mica) is colourless and will increase the translucency of your products. It will reflect light, but it tends to be low lustre. It offers low coverage, so it’s suitable for light to medium foundations and eye shadows, and it won’t clog your pores. It isn’t great at absorbing oils, and people with oily skin might find that their colour turns ashy through the day (this is especially an issue for darker skinned women with oily skin!).
Good for light to medium coverage for normal to dry skin.
Summary for Untreated Sericite Mica
Usage rate:
Up to 100% in powdered products.
Advantages :
- Its ability to block UV radiation and prevent skin cancer
- Provides shine and luster thus, giving a pearl effect
- Stable and chemically inert
- Partial reduction of pearl pigments, thereby reducing costs
- Imparts softness and smoothness
- High coating ability
- Provides a matte finish
Suitable To Be Used In :
- Pressed powders
- Body powders
- Liquid makeup
- Lipstick
- Nail polish
Whiteness or opacity:
To make darker skin colour lighter, to cover up imperfections.
Translucency:
The base itself is almost invisible once applied. This is why we use sericite. It is colourless and increases translucency. Untreated sericite is the most translucent of all the sericites.
Skin protection:
Not really applicable with untreated sericite mica.
Slip:
The product provides a good “nice feel” effect when rub on the skin. It offers slip and glide on your skin with a silky feel.
Absorbency:
Your colour will remain true throughout the day and not morph into something due to environmental stresses or skin oils. It is not suitable for people with oily skin as the primary ingredient.
Sericite Mica in Cosmetic Products
Mineral make-up used to be made with talc as the primary filler as it has some good features, but it can also clog pores which is why some people avoid such products. With the discovery of sericite mica, it has managed to solve this particular problem.
Generally there are two types of sericite mica: untreated sericite mica, treated sericite mica with silicones.
Surface Treated Sericite Mica – Treated with Silicone
Surface treated sericite mica- sometimes called silicone mica – is treated with silicon to increase the water resistance, increase adhesion and make it more free flowing. It is shinier than the untreated sericite mica, so it will reflect light and reduce fine lines. However, it is not suitable for elderly people with deep skin lines as it will show more wrinkles on their skin. It will absorb oil to keep your colour true throughout the day, so it’s a great choice for people with oily or dark skin. It feels silky smooth on application and on your skin.
Good for medium to full coverage for oily or dark skin as it isn’t as translucent as untreated sericite.
Summary for Silicone Treated Sericite Mica
Usage rate:
Up to 100% in powdered products.
Whiteness or opacity:
To make a colour lighter, to cover up imperfections. It won’t make your colours lighter and it’s a medium coverage product, so it will cover up some imperfections in your skin.
Translucency:
The base itself is almost invisible once applied. A translucent product that is virtually invisible when you apply it. Not as translucent as untreated sericite mica.
Skin protection:
Comestic Silicone is approved as a barrier ingredient, so it is going to offer some protection from the elements. The sericite itself does not offer protection.
Slip:
The product feels nice going on and staying on. Offers great slip and glide with a silky feeling upon application and on your skin.
Adhesion: The product remains on your skin. Great adhesion.
Absorbency:
Your colour will remain true throughout the day and not morph into something due to environmental stresses or skin oils. Excellent absorbency and excellent colour retention for people with normal, oily, or darker skin.
Light scattering properties:
To give your skin a dewy glow. Good light scattering properties, but this can make older skin look more wrinkled.
Sericite Mica in Welding Rods
Due to the sericite clay good elasticity and plastic properties, the welding rod will not break as easily as the rock mica origin. In addition, it’s silky and smoothness properties will prolong the life of the machines used for extrusion. Hence, it provides better smooth finishing and looks better.
Sericite Mica in Rubber Industry
One of the main properties are that it will provide better strength of the rubber product as it can be used for better reinforcement effect. Hence, one can reduce the usage of carbon black. Sericte mica also improves dimensional stability of the product such as stress cracking as well as prevent aging, strengthen the wear-resisting performance because sericite is a product that does not age as compared to rubber which has shorter shelf life. It has excellent acid and alkaline proof resistance, as well as flame retardant and corrosion resistant properties.
Sericite mica also improves the heat performance of the rubber products as it can withstand high temperature. Due to the low LOI, it will reducing shrinkage and warping rate. Another important property would be that Sericite can improve gas permeability of the finished rubber product and thermal expansion of the product.
Sericite Mica in Paint
Sericite Mica has long been used in the paint industry such as anti-corrosion coating , high temperature resistance coatings, exteriror and interior wall coating. The physical structure of the mineral provides good waterproofing and fireproof properties which makes it suitable for the paint industries that are looking for such properties.
Established in 1970 with a humble factory in Tapah, Perak, starting with the kaolin mineral, our name Kaolin (Malaysia) was born.
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