Mica Sheet, V1 Quality, 25x25mm, 0,15-0,21mm thick, each

Mica Sheets and Disks

The highest quality mica (V-1 or V-2) for AFM applications to the Medium Quality (V-4 to V-6) for replication and thin film deposition. All Mica Sheets and Disks are of natural origin.

Introduction

Our Mica Sheets offer a clean surface for EM applications, carbon filming and particle spraying, as well as for AFM applications. There are two types of mica: muscovite and phlogopite. Generally, one differs from the other by color (Muscovite is Ruby, Green or White; Phlogopite is Amber, Yellow, or Silver). The maximum operating temperature for Muscovite is about 500-600°C and for Phlogopite is about 800-900°C. Our line consists of High Quality Muscovite Mica. This mica peels off very thin up to 0.0001" uniform layers, exposing "virgin" mica upon splitting.

Characteristics:

Muscovite, potash type mica, sometimes known as granitic mica, is the best of all micas in dielectric strength, perfection of cleavage, and transparency.

It has the following chemical formula: H₂KAI₃(Si0₄)₃.

Chemical Composition:

It has a vitreous luster and is colorless to gray, brown, pale green, violet, dark olive green, or rose red. It may be transparent to translucent. It has strong double refraction and is optically negative. It loses water of constitution at 600°C and is practically non-magnetic. It exhibits pleochrism, which is the property of varying in color when viewed from different angles.

RUBY muscovite is harder than green and has a pale brownish red color in thin sheets (0.020") or ruby red in thick plates (0.4"). Ruby mica can be split easily into films of 0.001" or thinner because it has such excellent cleavage. In other colors, this thinness can be obtained but at a considerable risk of cracking.

Physical Properties:

Quality Determination:

The quality of muscovite mica is verbal determination by visual quality classification ASTM (D351-57T) from the best V-1 to the worst is V-10A.

1. V-1: Clear - Hard, of uniform color, nearly flat, free of all stains, foreign inclusion, cracks, and other similar defects.

2. V-2: Clear and Slightly Stained - Hard, of uniform color, nearly flat and may contain slight crystallographic discoloration, and very slight air inclusions and not more than one fourth of the usable area.

3. V-3: Fair Stained - Hard, of uniform color, may contain slight waves, slight crystallographic discoloration, and sligh air inclusions and not more than one-half of the usable area.

4. V-4: Good Stained - Hard, of uniform color, may contain medium waves slight crystallographic discoloration, and medium air inclusion in not more than two-third of the usable area.

5. V-5: Stained A Quality - Hard, may contain medium air inclusions, uniformly distributed in the usable area; slight green vegetable stains, medium waviness, and heavy waves if specified.

6. V-6: Stained B Quality - Hard, may contain heavy air inclusions and heavy waves, medium green vegetable stains, slight black and red dots (mineral) and clay stains.

7. V-7: Heavy Stained - Hard, and may contain heavy air inclusions and waves, slight light black and red dots (mineral), medium cloudy stains, clay stains and green stains (vegetable). Soft, buckles, ridges, and sand blast acceptable if specified.

8. V-7A: Densely Stained - Hard and soft. May contain heavy waves and air inclusions, cloudy stains. High black and red dots (mineral). Medium black and red stained (mineral), buckles, and ridges. Also, green stain (vegetable type), clay stains, herringbones, and sand blast.

9. V-8: Black Dotted - Hard, may contain medium waves, heavy air inclusions, cloudy stains, light black and red dots (mineral), and green stains (vegetable).

10. V-9: Black Spotted - Hard, may contain medium waves, heavy air inclusions, cloudy stains, light black and red dots (mineral), and green stains (vegetable type), slight black stains (mineral), and sand blast.

11. V-10: Black Stained - Hard, may contain medium waves, heavy air inclusions, cloudy stains, light black and red dots (mineral), green stains (vegetable type), and sand blast, medium black stains (mineral), slight red stains (mineral), and clay stains.

12. V-10A: Densely Black and Red Stained - Hard, may contain heavy waves, air inclusion, cloudy stains, light black and red dots (mineral), red stains (mineral), black and red stains (mineral), green stains (vegetable type), and sand blast, very dense black and red stains (mineral), and slight clay stains. Soft if specified.

Applications:

In general, for those whom are using mica for the making of carbon support films, thin films coatings research, and some AFM studies where HOPG are used to taking place, the mica V-4 or V-5 is recommended. (Always use Mica with freshly cleaved surfaces).

For AFM and SPM calibration, V-1 or V-2 is recommended. However, we believe that it is important that you know what kind of mica is being used in your lab. The information on the mica as given above should be used to make your choice.