Cleaving Mica


Sheet Mica Supply

Techniques for cleaving mica sheets and Disks

The successful cleaving of mica requires a little bit of an "art" but more, just a good understanding of the

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process.

The structure of mica is often times described, as being "micaceous" or layer-like. The solid state structure of mica can be described as being a series of parallel sheets, and as it turns out, these sheets can be readily separated by the use of something very sharp pressed into one of the edges of the mica piece (the as-purchased sheet).

We like to recommend first, the use of safety glasses. Do not proceed further without proper eye protection! The second item needed is a sharp blade, such as a razor blade or even a scalpel blade. Our recommendation is a single edge razor blade.

The next step is to press the edge of the razor blade, parallel with the lateral planes of the sheet, sort of into the edge, literally starting a "prying" process, by which the piece is "pried" into two prices. You have to experiment a bit as to whether this step is done more quickly or more slowly. We ourselves believe that a better surface is obtained if done more slowly than more quickly, but there is also the greater chance for accidental razor blade damage to the freshly created surface. This also means that each cleaving produces two freshly cleaved surfaces, not one.

Just how many cleaving can one do? Well, it sort of depends on just how thin a remaining piece can be and still get two freshly cleaved faces.

Just always remember that from USA Mica you have a choice of different "grades" of mica, all mica is most definitely not the same, and you should select the grade that seems best for your application. You will also notice that the higher the quality of the grade selected, the more readily cleavable will be the mica and this also usually means that you can cleave from a thinner piece.

Additionally, whatever grade you are going to be using, the USA Mica, mica sheets, after cleavage, require no further surface preparation, no cleaning and no exposure to solvents. The surfaces are expected to be used "as cleaved".