Though epoxy resin is best known for its glasslike, crystal clear finish properties, it is also incredibly receptive to certain types of colorants.
Among these colorants are Mica Powder Pigments and Resin Dyes. Today, we'll be explaining the nature of mica powder, including how it is made, what it's made from, and how you can use it to give your epoxy finish or resin art a vivid boost in color and aesthetic appeal.
What is mica powder?
Mica powder is the powdered form of mica—a group of silicate minerals with a few shared properties. Mica minerals exist in a variety of different colors naturally, and also feature a valued reflective sheen, which makes them shine in the light. It's this reflective sheen that makes it so popular among many different types of artists, especially those who work with epoxy resin.
Mica is typically mined, cleaned, and then ground into a fine powder. This powder, in turn, can be used as a colorful pigment to imbue various mediums and forms of art or decor with different hues and an elegant shimmer.
Mica powder pigments are usable for a variety of different projects, including painting, soap making, candle making, resin jewelry and art, and, of course, epoxy resin finishes for decor such as table tops, bar tops, and countertops.
And best of all, mica powder pigments blend exceptionally well with epoxy.
How do mica powder pigments work with epoxy resin?
Coloring your epoxy resin with mica powder is a straightforward process. As long as you know how to begin, it's difficult to mess up.
- Mix a resin batch. Begin by mixing up a batch of epoxy. Follow the instructions for your chosen epoxy to get the right ratio.
- Add pigment. Once you're nearly done mixing, you can begin adding your mica powder pigment to the batch. Start with a small amount and add more until you achieve the desired shade.
- Apply the resin. After the epoxy resin batch is nicely blended (be sure not to take too long, per your instructions), you can apply it to your project, typically by pouring it into a mold or onto a substrate surface.
- Continue with your project. From there, you just continue the epoxy project as normal. The powder pigments won't affect the epoxy curing process.
What about the resin dyes?
There are also colorants we call resin dyes. These aren't made with mica powder but serve a similar purpose. They can be used to impart a deep, vivid hue to a batch of epoxy resin.
When used in epoxy, the resin dyes will even disperse throughout the resin, providing a singular, consistent shade to the entire batch. This is notably different from how mica powder pigments work, which provide unique multi-toned textured effects throughout the resin.
In our store you'll find a selection of premium resin dyes by Pigmently, a brand that offers high-quality colorants in liquid and powder form. Pigmently resin dyes are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way; when using them, we recommend starting with a small amount and gradually adding more to your resin batch until you're satisfied with the results.
Where can I get high-quality mica powder for resin?
In our store, you'll find a wide variety of premium mica powder pigments by Pigmently. These pigments are not only vivid and easy to use, but also long-lasting. They're non-fading and will maintain their vibrancy for many years.
We like Pigmently products for their diverse selection and straightforward application. For those who'd like to try a variety of different colorants, we have cost-effective Value Bundles in our store as well.
So come take a look—we think you'll find these mica powders to be unmatched in quality and tone!