When working with epoxy resin, sometimes you want something a little different from the norm. Though epoxy is beautiful in its natural state, which is clear, glossy, and transparent, the addition of colorants can be a way to bring a more personalized charm to the elegant material.
Because of this, many epoxy users elect to mix their epoxy with mica powder pigments, imbuing it with a surge of vivid color, whether soft, vibrant, deep, or understated.
In this article, we'll explain how to mix epoxy with mica powder, as well as how the mica powder works with the resin to create such stunning results.
Before we begin, though, let's quickly go over what epoxy and mica powder are, for anyone who isn't familiar
What Is Epoxy?
In most cases, the term "epoxy" refers to a two-part epoxy resin, which is a material that starts off as two separate liquid components: resin and hardener. When these two components are blended together, they begin to "cure", gradually hardening through a chemical reaction into a remarkably strong material with a clear glasslike appearance.
Epoxy resin is typically used for one of two general purposes.
The first use is as a sealant for furniture, fixtures, and other aspects of decor. Items such as bar tops, table tops, and countertops are excellent choices for an epoxy resin finish.
The second usage for epoxy resin is in the creation of resin art. Note, though, that these two uses are not mutually exclusive). Resin art is essentially any epoxy project where the primary goal is to create something aesthetically pleasing or evocative. Some examples are epoxy wall art, resin serving trays and coasters, and epoxy keychains/charms.
In our Pigmently store, you'll find Primaloc Art and Craft Epoxy, which is a high-quality epoxy designed for resin art.
What Is Mica Powder?
Mica powder is the finely ground form of mica minerals. Mica is the name of a group of 37 silicate minerals known for their highly reflective surface, their range of color, and their perfect mineral cleavage (ideal for mining). Though many mica minerals are not commonly used for mica powders, any of them technically can be, with the most common being phlogopite and muscovite.
When mica is mined, cleaned, and ground into a powder, the resulting particles will retain their reflectivity, and the powder itself can be used as a pigment. Mica is insoluble, too, so it won't dissolve when applied to liquid bases.
Mica powder pigments come in a variety of hues and textures. Some are very fine, others feature larger particles for more of a sparkling effect.
To see our entire mica powder pigment collection, click here!
How Do You Mix Epoxy With Mica Powder?
Adding mica powder to your epoxy is relatively straightforward. Here's a step-by-step process to get you there:
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Add the Hardener: Being by pouring the hardener component of the epoxy into a container. Make sure you only pour as much as is needed for the epoxy you've chosen.
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Add the Mica Powder: Next, add your mica powder. Then stir it in. You can add more as needed until you achieve a satisfying tone.
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Add the Resin: Third, you'll add the resin component to your mix. This will start the curing process. Mix it up well according to your resin manufacturer's instructions.
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Adjust the Color as Needed: Once you've adequately mixed it, the color may seem a little vivid due to the increased proportion of epoxy to mica powder. If so, you can add some more mica powder and quickly mix it in at this point.
- Apply the Epoxy: From here, you can apply the epoxy in the intended manner.
And that's it—just 5 short steps.
If you're experienced with epoxy, you can skip step 2 and add the mica powder after mixing up your batch. This will make it easier to get the exact shade you want, but puts you on a slightly tighter timetable.
What Does Mica Powder Do in Resin?
When mica powder is mixed into epoxy resin, the colorful pigment particles become suspended within the epoxy blend. Because mica is insoluble, the tiny particles keep their form instead of dissolving. This allows the particles to continue exhibiting their reflect shine, typically appearing as a gentle shimmer within the epoxy resin.
Mica powder provides epoxy resin a few benefits. For one, because mica powder is colorfast, it won't fade over time due to sunlight or other concerns. It also reduces the rate of yellowing in epoxy resins. Depending on the colors chosen, any yellowing may be entirely imperceptible.
You can find a wide array of distinct premium mica powder pigments in our store.
Pigmently: Your Trusted Source for Premium Mica Powder for Epoxy
At Pigmently, we're committed to providing premium colorants for DIY creators of any skill level. Each of our powder pigments and liquid dyes is strictly produced to a refined formula.
By using only high-grade ingredients to ensure a clean, potent, and vibrant result, we maintain high standards of quality, which allows us to offer our users a selection of high-grade pigments that mix well into other mediums.
In our store, you'll find a wide array of premium mica powders to use in your creations. You can also view our premium liquid dyes collection.
If you find yourself searching for multiple shades, consider our curated Colorant Value Bundles, which are cost-effective ways to obtain a variety of colorful mica powder pigments.
Bring your creations to life with premium Mica Powder Pigments by Pigmently!