We were incredibly humbled recently to join the annual general meeting of the Responsible Mica Initiative. RMI is a global coalition which was established in 2017, on a foundation of work already done by its members to eliminate child labour and poor working conditions in the mica mining industry. …
High voltage applications require a specialised and stable material for insulation. High voltages can compromise an entire circuit, as well as the safety of users and/or operators if not properly protected against.
Mica is commonly used in a number of high voltage applications. Let’s take a look at why that is and a couple of examples of how it’s used. …
In order to meet changing customer needs and rising demand for more choice, faster turnaround and better quality, many industries need to constantly look to innovative ways to increase efficiency. For many in manufacturing and similar industries, having effective high temperature thermal insulation for equipment and machinery is key to achieving this. A (relatively) recent innovation in high temperature insulation is microporous technology. …
Mica is highly suited to use as insulation in electrical applications – low, mid or high voltage – because of its superior performance. Mica has a high dielectric strength, able to withstand up to 2000 kV/mm before breaking down. In addition, it also has relatively high permittivity, meaning that it performs well as a dielectric in a capacitor. In terms of its physical properties, mica is highly durable and can also be strengthened by combining and laminating it with glass or ceramic, which is common in electrical applications.
With that in mind, let’s look at some more specific applications in which mica electrical insulation is useful. …
The global foundry and steel industry is massive, 112.7m tons of metal castings are produced globally every year. In Europe alone, 290,000 are employed in the foundry industry.
As has been the case in many other industries, foundry and steel has experienced the impact of COVID-19 on production, supply chains and consumer demand. With foundry being one of the sectors we work with most frequently, we wanted to examine the current climate in the industry and the outlook for the coming months. …
At the extreme operating temperatures in the foundry industry, it’s vital that the right insulation and the right insulation material be used to ensure an adequate level of safety, consistency and efficiency. We have been working closely with the foundry industry for many years – and as such have developed a number of highly effective mica-based insulation solutions that can help to increase safety, reduce maintenance costs and increase efficiency by significantly reducing heat loss.
Let’s explore some of the reasons why mica insulation is advantageous in a variety of applications in the foundry industry. …
Our customer is one of the largest integrated producers of alumina and aluminium in Asia, and ranks in the top five aluminium producers in the world. Their low cost but high-quality solutions are used in a wide variety of industries, including automotive, building and construction, defence, electricals, pharmaceuticals and white goods. Their 1182 acre alumina plant, established in 1969, comprises three rotary kilns, two with 3.05m diameter and one with 1.98m. …
As part of the global initiative to combat climate change, the sale of non-electric vehicles will be banned in 9 countries by 2030. In the UK, where the date is currently 2035, there has been talk of bringing this forward to 2030. Some countries have plans for earlier bans – such as Norway, which plans to phase them out by 2025, and Austria, who planned to stop the sale of them this year. These initiatives and benchmarks have proven to be the impetus behind legislation, innovation and movement in the electric vehicle market over the last couple of years.
Mica’s unique thermal, electrical and physical properties make it ideal for use as an insulation solution in a number of applications. Mica-based insulation can withstand up to 1000°C, and 2000 volts before breaking down, meaning it can offer vital protection in high temperature and high voltage situations. It’s also durable, lightweight and absorbs little to no moisture, meaning that it doesn’t compromise the design or performance of the system it’s implemented in and is largely unaffected by the elements. …
Heat dissipation is an unavoidable but nonetheless negative side effect of a number of processes in a range of industries – from forging steel to powering an electric vehicle.
A number of factors can affect heat transfer. It’s important to understand what these factors and outcomes are in order to find the right way to address the heat dissipation with the right insulation.
Here’s what you need to know about heat dissipation, and how thermal insulation can help address it.