Basics of Epoxy Resin & Mica Powder
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Epoxy resin is a versatile two-component system composed of resin and hardener. When mixed, it cures into a durable, glossy, and often crystal-clear finish. It’s commonly used for art projects, crafts, countertops, river tables, flooring and even industrial applications.
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Mica powder is a finely milled, naturally occurring mineral pigment that offers shimmering, pearlescent effects. Available in a wide range of colors and finishes, it’s perfect for enhancing epoxy resin and is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, arts and crafts.
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When mixed into epoxy resin, mica powder disperses evenly to create vibrant, metallic, or pearlescent effects. It provides depth and color while maintaining the resin’s natural transparency or opacity based on the desired result.
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• Adds vibrant colors and shimmering effects.
• Enhances visual depth and texture.
• Easy to blend and customize.
• Compatible with various resin applications.
Choosing the Right Mica Powder
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- Metallic: Offers bold, reflective finishes.
- Pearlescent: Provides subtle, elegant shimmer.
- Iridescent/Color-Shift: Shifts between colors depending on light and angle.
- Neon/Glow: Bright, eye-catching pigments, some of which glow in the dark.
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Yes, mica powder can mimic natural stone, metallic finishes, or even create holographic effects when layered with other additives.
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Look for powders that are:
- Fine-grained and smooth.
- Highly pigmented for vibrant color.
- Safe and non-toxic (certified).
- Suitable for the intended application (e.g., resin or crafts).
All Rolio products meet the above standards.
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It depends on the quantity used. A small amount keeps resin transparent, while more powder creates an opaque or metallic finish.
Epoxy Resin and Pigments
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That really depends on the project, and Rolio's mica pigments are highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way. Using an amount of mica pigment equal to roughly 0.5% to 3% the total volume of epoxy is recommended. That means for a gallon of resin, you can use anywhere from 18 to 108 grams of pigment.
As an easy starting point, start out small with about 16 grams per gallon and see how it looks. If it is too thin, add more. Remember, in a concentrated mixture, the epoxy might look darker colored than it will appear when you pour it, so keep that in mind.
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For Larger Projects such as an Epoxy River Table see the below:
- For a translucent look, we recommend adding 6 grams or 1.5 teaspoons per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount will allow you to see through the epoxy and still see some detail on the live edge.
- For an opaque look: 12 grams or 3 teaspoons per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount will remove the ability to see the live edge, and you won't see through the epoxy.Â
We recommend starting with a little bit of pigment and adding more until getting the results you are looking to achieve.
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Mica Powders will naturally have a shimmer, as it is an earth mineral that has this effect.
To achieve a solid opaque color in epoxy we recommend pigment paste. It is a resin based dye that will give your epoxy resin a solid color, with no shimmer. Check out our pigment paste collection here.
Other alternatives for a non shimmer epoxy dye is liquid pigments. We offer a selection of Solid, Translucent, and Transparent dyes here.
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To achieve optimal results in small volume resin projects, it is recommended to incorporate 1 gram of mica powder for every 1-5 ounces of epoxy. It is worth noting that 1 gram is approximately equivalent to one-quarter teaspoon. By using a 1-to-1 ratio, you will obtain a darker and more opaque color, whereas a 1-to-5 ratio will yield a more transparent appearance.
It is important to consider that thinner resin castings, such as delicate resin jewelry, usually necessitate a greater amount of mica powder to attain a vibrant and pearlescent shine.
Mica Powder & Wood
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There are a few ways you can use Mica powder to color/stain/finish your wood.
- For more of a stain we recommend mixing with a clear linseed oil. (we recommend trying Mineral Oil if that's what you have around)
- For more of a tint in the wood, rubbing the straight mica on the wood and buffing (make sure to seal with a lacquer) can give a pretty interesting result.
- Additionally you can mix with a liquid beeswax for more of a pearlescent finish over painted wood.
It really depends on the type of finish you are trying to achieve. For a deep traditional stain and coloring of wood, it may be difficult using the mica powder method.
Please make sure that you use a form of seal after any Mica applied methods.
We always recommend trying a small test of your method before applying to the large project.
Hope this helps and would love to hear from you on how your project turns out.
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Top Coat Epoxy Resin - Rolio Offers a beautiful crystal clear top coat Epoxy Resin. This should only be used for a top coating, and the thickness should not exceed .75" in height.
Deep Pour Epoxy Resin - This should be used in circumstances such as river tables, or epoxy projects where you can pour up to 2" in height of Epoxy at a time. If you need to pour more than 2" in height for your Epoxy Resin project, it is recommended to do it in multiple stages of 2" pours, on top of each other.