Can Mica Powder be used in Resin?

If you are like most crafters out there who are getting started with mediums like epoxy resin, you might wonder if Mica Powder can be used to color your projects and creations. Here is the answer to that question:

Yes, Mica Powder can be used to color Epoxy Resin! Micas are indeed the go-to resin art pigments nowadays. The beautiful special effects they produce are one of the many reasons artists and crafters love it. All their shimmery, iridescent particles stay suspended in resin, and usually, tons of movement and stimulating effects develop while the resin cures.

There are almost no substances into which mica powders will dissolve. That may seem like a hindrance at first, but it is the secret to mica’s versatility. As a jagged mineral, mica is typically ground into a fine powder. This powder is then dyed using metallic oxides, and it is incredibly stable. This feature allows pigmented mica to be added to almost any paints, adhesives, and resins to color them without modifying their inherent properties.

So that’s why Mica powder is one of the most popular choices for artists and enthusiasts who want to make the finest resin art. But you’re probably wondering now how to use Mica Powders to color Epoxy Resin.

How to use Mica Powder in Resin

Since Micas are highly pigmented mineral powders, a tiny bit will usually go a long way when it comes to adding color and pearlescent effects to resin art projects like jewelry, resin coasters, or even small resin geodes and paintings. For epoxy resin river tables and larger resin casting projects, a more significant pigment load will be needed but still not a lot. The most important thing is understanding how much pigment you need depending on the type of project and the desired outcome.

How much Mica Powder to add to Epoxy?

Small Epoxy Resin Projects

The Mica Powder to Epoxy ratio depends on the type of project and the opacity level you want to achieve. To get a rich, vibrant, fully opaque color, the general rule of thumbs is 1g of mica powder per ounce of resin in small projects. However, we always recommend starting by mixing a tiny amount of pigment in your resin and adding more until getting the desired color and level of opacity needed.

Larger Epoxy Resin Projects

Using 1% to 3.5% of pigment powder in the total amount of Epoxy Resin by weight is also recommended for larger projects. The greater the percentage of pigment you use, the more opaque the final color will be. Please keep in mind that adding more than 4% of pigment to some resins could affect the curing process.

River Tables or Resin & Wood Projects

For epoxy river tables or resin and wood projects using up to 30L or 8 gallons of resin, here is what most of our customers do:

• For a translucent look: 1.5 teaspoons of Mica Powder per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount of pigment will allow you to see through the epoxy and still see some detail on the live edge.
• For an opaque look: 3 teaspoons of Mica Powder per 30 Liters or 8 Gallons. This amount of pigment will remove the ability to see the live edge, and you won't see through the epoxy.

Watch the artists @pinesandneedle below mixing our Imperial Emerald Intense Chroma Mica Powder pigment into Epoxy Resin for a beautiful woodworking project:

When to add Mica Powder to Resin?

High-quality Mica Powders have the perfect particle size to blend into epoxy resin fairly easily. So once your resin (usually called by manufactures "Part A") and hardener (also know as "Part B") are thoroughly mixed, you can add mica powder and stir until fully incorporated.

Some crafters like to pre-mix mica powders with the "Part A" of epoxy resin first because this allows the powder particles to be fully dispersed before adding the color to a more significant amount of resin. But this is not necessary when using high-quality mica powders, because they can be added directly to a large batch of resin.

Final Thought

As discussed during this article, Using mica powders to color your resin art creations is a great option! Since they are 100% mineral and don’t react or dissolve in resin, you can safely add them to your projects without worrying about modifying the resin’s inherent properties. On top of that, various transparency levels can also be achieved when adding larger or smaller amounts of mica to your total amount of resin. Best practice: always mix just a little bit and add more mica powder until you get the desired opacity.

If you are curious about simple resin art techniques to create mind-blowing special effects using MEYSPRING mica powders, check this article here and watch what’s possible.

Below is a Pinterest friendly photo you can save on your boards for reference.