Mica Powder and Pigment Powder – Differences and Use with Epoxy Resin
dnfsdd852 > 12-02-2021, 08:30 AM
Mica Powder and Pigment Powder – Differences and Use with Epoxy Resin
What is Mica Powder?
Mica powder is one of the most popular choices for artists and enthusiasts who want to make the finest art. Consisting of the most natural elements, it is very safe to use and is non-toxic.
It is a common confusion on the difference between Mica powder and pigment powder.
Mica Powder is shimmery, giving a very glossy effect, while normal color pigment has a matte appearance. The powder is very flexible and is used in beauty products, healthcare products like lotions and soaps, and also in art supplies. Makeup enthusiasts are often baffled with the glow and the radiance it gives to their appearance. For artists, it is a perfect pick that can fit into any project.
With an extended usage in woodblock, festivals of color, clay pots, and architecture, Mica is an organic mineral found in stones. When this mineral with shiny flakes goes through the process of grounding, it is converted to the powder form. Mica powder is best known to give a perlaceous effect.
What Is the Best Mica Powder for Resin?
You have probably seen mica pigment powder around, whether it be in your local store or while you were shopping online for crafting supplies. Loads of companies make this product, and unfortunately, not all mica powder kits are made equal. This begs the question, what is the best mica powder for resin? Let’s have a look at some of the best-rated mica powder sets on the market and see how they stack up against one another.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of using Mica
Many individuals often encounter the problem of using a product that does not suit their skin. Mica, however, is a relief as it suits all skin types and is extremely safe to use. Possessing all-natural ingredients that are very beneficial for health and beauty, it does not have any additional side effects on the skin like rashes and irritation. It is also ground to the finest powder creating a scintillating organic finish.
If Mica has any disadvantage, it would be the mining involved. The regions that have abundance in the deposits of Mica require huge amounts of manpower. Thus, the industry often deals with child labor, for example in India. States like Jharkhand in India are examples of the poverty-stricken helplessness the children deal with while mining.
Usage of Mica Pigments in Art
Mica pigments consist of minute particles that can easily dissolve into any opaque medium. Thus, for maximum benefits of shine and sparkle, the pigment powder can be used in clear or translucent mediums. These pigments shine, particularly in oil paints and watercolors. You can mix the mica pigment by the requirement for the intensity of the color, which can be light or heavy.
The pigments work wonders with transparent topcoats like shellac, wax, clear epoxies, and glazes. It is very useful for Iconography, and Egg Tempera Artists will find them particularly useful, especially in Iconography. It is also a common choice for walls, floors, and furniture as it never degrades and is safe to use.
What is Pigment Powder?
Pigment powders consist of pigments known to give color to paint, that are primarily used for adding color to many products. Innately, they do not possess any lustrous properties.
The effect is similar to powdered colored chalk. The pigments powder consists of a range of colors like ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white.
Pigment Blue 15 is an example of synthetic artificial pigment that is not produced naturally. The pure pigments which are recommended often fare higher than the ones mixed with fillers like chalk.
Fruit Powder Vs Fruit Juice; Which Is Better?
We all often get confused as to what is better and more nutritious between fruit juice and fruit powder.
This is because many people are not concerned about consuming a well-balanced diet but instead choose to have a quick meal instead to manage time, leading to severe consequences. This is where food and fruit supplements came to play, these powdery substances can be mixed with quick meals or taken with plain water and they'll take care of your body's nutritional needs.
But what difference does it make when compared to consuming fruit supplements rather than eating the fruit in its original raw form or simply drinking some fruit juice? We're going to find that out in this article.
Researches conclude that fruit powder tends to retain about 95% of the nutritional content of the fruit, but there's a catch. Our body processes powder supplements differently when compared to juice and solid fruits. Usually, the body is not able to absorb all of the nutrients from fruit powder and you might miss a lot as compared to consuming fruit juice or the fruit itself.
Also, fruit powder is deprived of the fiber content of the fruit, which means it has none to zero fiber content of the fruit in it. Fiber is essential for an efficient working digestive system and it also helps the body digest food better and absorb nutrients with its full capacity.
The absence of this fibrous content is the reason why our body is not able to process all of the nutrients from the fruit powder supplements. Whereas on the other hand, fruit juice does not lose nutrients at all. Drinking fruit juice is almost the same to having eaten the fruits.
Juice retains the same amount of nutrients and is also it's easier for the body to digest and absorb essential nutrients from the juice even though it does not contain the same amount of fibers as compared to the fruit.
Fruit powders have gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. As people are more or less occupied with their busy lives, there's an increasing impact of malnutrition in major chunks of the population across the globe especially the working individuals.
Demand for fruit and vegetable powder is growing as manufacturers discover their flavor, color, texture and nutrient assets, and consumers look to increase produce consumption, according to Ingredients Network.
These powders are showing up in beverages, confectionery, ready-to-eat products, bakery and dairy, Ingredients Network reported. Demand is particularly strong in Europe, but the publication predicts it will soon be followed by the Asia Pacific region as food processing technology and disposable incomes advance.
According to MarketsandMarkets data cited by Ingredients Network, the value of fruit and vegetable ingredients could hit $216 billion by 2022, for a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%.
How to mix Mica Powder and Pigment Powder with Epoxy Resin
Many consider mixing Mica powder and pigment powder with Epoxy Resin. This can be done in various ways. However, you will have to keep certain things in mind.
Make sure that your pigment powder is completely dry and away from any additional moisture. Moisture can prevent the epoxy resin from curing or can promote soft curing. Also, be careful while mixing your resin and hardener.
Many adults and children in the United States take one or more vitamins or other dietary supplements. In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements can contain minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acid, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and powders, as well as drinks and energy bars. Popular supplements include vitamins D and B12; minerals like calcium and iron; herbs such as echinacea and garlic; and products like glucosamine, probiotics, and fish oils.
The Dietary Supplement Label
Products sold as dietary supplements come with a Supplement Facts label that lists the active ingredients, the amount per serving (dose), as well as other ingredients, such as fillers, binders, and flavorings. The manufacturer suggests the serving size, but your healthcare provider might decide a different amount is more appropriate for you.
Effectiveness
Some dietary supplements can help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients if you don’t eat a nutritious variety of foods. However, supplements can’t take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet. To learn more about what makes a healthy diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate are good sources of information.
Some dietary supplements can improve overall health and help manage some health conditions. For example:
Calcium and vitamin D help keep bones strong and reduce bone loss.
Folic acid decreases the risk of certain birth defects.
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils might help some people with heart disease.
A combination of vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin (known as AREDS) may slow down further vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Many other supplements need more study to determine if they have value. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not determine whether dietary supplements are effective before they are marketed.
Safety and Risk
Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Always be alert to the possibility of a bad reaction, especially when taking a new product.
You are most likely to have side effects from dietary supplements if you take them at high doses or instead of prescribed medicines, or if you take many different supplements. Some supplements can increase the risk of bleeding or, if taken before surgery, can change your response to anesthesia. Supplements can also interact with some medicines in ways that might cause problems. Here are a few examples:
Vitamin K can reduce the ability of the blood thinner warfarin to prevent blood from clotting.
St. John’s wort can speed the breakdown of many medicines and reduce their effectiveness (including some antidepressants, birth control pills, heart medications, anti-HIV medications, and transplant drugs).
Antioxidant supplements, such as vitamins C and E, might reduce the effectiveness of some types of cancer chemotherapy.
Manufacturers may add vitamins, minerals, and other supplement ingredients to foods you eat, especially breakfast cereals and beverages. As a result, you may get more of these ingredients than you think, and more might not be better. Taking more than you need costs more and might also raise your risk of side effects. For example, too much vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. Excess iron causes nausea and vomiting and may damage the liver and other organs.
Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider. Many supplements have not been well tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
If you think that you have had a bad reaction to a dietary supplement, let your healthcare provider know. He or she may report your experience to the FDA. You may also submit a report directly to the FDA by calling 800-FDA-1088 or completing an online form. You should also report your reaction to the manufacturer by using the contact information on the product label.
Quality
The FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that companies must follow to help ensure the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. These GMPs can prevent adding the wrong ingredient (or too much or too little of the correct ingredient) and reduce the chance of contamination or improper packaging and labeling of a product. The FDA periodically inspects facilities that manufacture supplements.