General FAQ's
In water-based products, water is the solvent. Solvent-based products use organic solvents.
Mica’s water-based products are environmentally responsible and non-hazardous in transportation They are also non-flammable, free of allergens, most are free of volatile organic chemicals, and are easier to clean up.
All of Mica’s products are water-based, free of allergens, and are formulated to the highest possible concentrate to reduce environmental impact. Mica’s research and development team is continuously innovating products and technologies to assist with energy and waste reduction in the supply chain and beyond. Our latest innovation is a compostable adhesion promoter that passes the ASTM D6400 standard. If you want to be the first to market with sustainable products, contact us
Mica's products are used in a wide variety of flexible packages, foodservice containers and trays, graphic arts applications like menu covers and credit cards, labels for beverages, automotive, and clothing, digital print applications, and even industrial applications like batteries, electronics, currency, and cookware.
There are several factors to consider when trying to identify the ideal product for your application. We have generated a document to help you identify the most important criteria to consider, but if you need help thinking through this process, we are standing by to assist you.
Yes, we have developed water-based products that improve oxygen barrier properties for paper and plastic substrates or extrudates.
None of Mica’s primers or coatings contain mica. When the company was founded, the name MICA was meant to be an acronym that stood for Molecular Interfacial Covalent Adhesion.
We offer a variety of container sizes to ensure you get just the right amount of product delivered to you safely and efficiently every time. View our container selection cheat sheet to help you determine the ideal option for you.
The minimum order quantity is 5 gallons. However, our products come in a variety of other container sizes for your convenience. Need help choosing a container size? Refer to our container selection cheat sheet for more information.
To avoid contamination, do not mix spent product with product that has not been emptied from its original container. Instead, store spent product in a clean, sealed container in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight.
Many Mica products are freeze/thaw stable. If your product is frozen, please contact your Mica technical sales representative to determine the appropriate next steps.
The answer to this question varies based on the region you live in. Check with your local municipal waste management department.
Technical FAQ's
Mica's products are versatile and can be applied in a variety of ways, including via smooth roll, gravure, flexographic, spray, enclosed doctor blade, kiss coating, and three roll coaters.
It’s important to determine the wet delivery coat weight of the cylinder before diluting the primer to reach the recommended dry coat weight. Contact your cylinder supplier to find out the wet delivery coat weight for your system, then refer to our Smooth roll or Gravure roll primer intelligence articles for more application guidance.
Coat weights vary depending on the chemistry type of the product as well as the end-use application. Recommended coat weight starting points and ranges can be found on each product’s Technical Data Sheet (TDS). To view TDS’, log in or contact a Mica expert for assistance.
Yes. Pretreating substrates will ensure optimal adhesion.
Yes, it is still recommended to corona or flame treat pretreated film before applying water-based primers or coatings. For information on treatment and dyne levels, check out our Primer Intelligence Article “Treatment + Primer = Success.”
There is no activation temperature for MICA extrusion primers. To get the best bonds possible, however, it is imperative that the primer is dried completely.
Excessive turbulence caused by pumping or stirring too quickly may generate foam in some of Mica’s extrusion primers. This can be avoided by using slow, low shear pumping of the primer or coating from the sump pump to the applicator pan or enclosed doctor blade. The return hose should deliver a low flow rate of liquid. It is possible to add antifoam to some Mica products. Please refer to the Technical Data Sheet for the Mica product you are using for more guidance.
View our Primer Intelligence article for help on calculating the appropriate time in the air gap.
There are a few ways to determine if the primer is dry. Holding a flashlight at a 30-degree angle can reveal wetness on the web. If you are working with a film substrate, you can tell if the primer is dry if the film starts to build static. On non-reflective rollers, an infrared thermometer (gun) can detect the oven temperature at the exit of the oven. Need more help? A Mica expert can assist you.
Coating weight, line speed, oven set temperature, the recycled air ratio in the drying chamber, and blower size all play a role in determining proper drying conditions. Contact a Mica expert for assistance.
We have a variety of techniques to help detect the presence of primer on film. Please contact a Mica expert to learn more.
Mica’s water-based EAA products can become destabilized if the proper pH levels are not maintained. We have a document that can assist you with maintaining pH levels in our EAA products. This document also gives suggestions on how to fix the primer solution if the pH levels decrease.
While uncommon, MICA primers can turn a variety of colors when exposed to certain metals, chemical contaminants, oxidation, overtreatment, and the use of some solvents and inks. If your primer is discolored, we encourage you to talk to your Mica Technical Sales Representative right away so that s/he can diagnose and troubleshoot the situation promptly and correctly.
Primers can get stuck to chrome, ceramic, and metal machine parts when they dry. The recommendations in this document are a culmination of more than 50 years of priming and cleanup experience.
CONTACT US
Mica Corporation
Global Headquarters
9 Mountain View Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
+1-203-922-8888
