PIME supplies ethically sourced muscovite mica for cosmetics and personal care, phlogopite mica for high-temperature insulation and rubber compounding, and dolomite as a reinforcing filler — all from audited Indian producers with full heavy-metals documentation and mine audit records.
Muscovite mica is the foundation mineral of the global cosmetics pigment industry. Its natural platelet structure, optical brilliance, and chemical inertness make it uniquely suited to formulations that require shimmer, soft focus, and skin-safe mineral composition.
Mica's lamellar (platelet) crystal habit gives it an exceptionally high aspect ratio — typically 30:1 to 80:1 for wet-ground grades. These flat particles align parallel to the skin surface, creating the smooth, reflective film that delivers shimmer, pearlescence, and a soft-focus blurring effect on fine lines.
The mineral's perfect basal cleavage also means that when ground, it produces smooth-edged platelets rather than sharp-edged particles — critical for eye-area applications where abrasive particles would be rejected by regulatory bodies and consumers alike.
The most critical quality requirement for cosmetic-grade mica is heavy-metal content. Indian mica belts — where PIME sources — produce muscovite of high natural purity, but mine selection and processing conditions affect trace element profiles. PIME sources exclusively from screened, audited producers whose mica consistently meets the thresholds below.
| Metal | PIME Limit | Regulatory Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | < 20 ppm | EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 / US FDA |
| Arsenic (As) | < 3 ppm | EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 |
| Mercury (Hg) | < 1 ppm | EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 |
| Cadmium (Cd) | < 3 ppm | EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 |
| Antimony (Sb) | < 5 ppm | Industry best practice |
| Chromium (Cr) | < 5 ppm | Industry best practice |
Heavy metals testing is conducted by ICP-MS at an accredited third-party laboratory. Full test reports are provided with every cosmetic-grade shipment. REACH-aligned SDS is available on request.
PIME supplies mica in the principal forms used across cosmetics, industrial manufacturing, rubber compounding and electrical applications. Custom grades and particle size specifications are available.
Large-format muscovite and phlogopite sheets for electrical insulation components, capacitor dielectrics, and decorative applications. Selected for clarity, absence of inclusions, and uniform thickness.
Natural split mica in coarse (30–60 mesh) and fine (60–100 mesh) grades. Used in paints and coatings for anti-corrosion performance, in rubber as a reinforcing filler, and in drilling fluids as lost-circulation material.
Ultra-fine wet-ground muscovite powder with d50 typically 3–10 µm and aspect ratio up to 80:1. The preferred grade for foundations, loose powders, skincare and pressed powder formulations requiring silky skin feel and soft-focus optical effects.
Dry-ground mica in standard mesh sizes (100, 200, 325 mesh) for paints, plastics, rubber compounding, welding electrodes and construction applications. Available as both muscovite and phlogopite.
Beyond cosmetics, PIME's mica range supports demanding industrial applications where thermal stability, dielectric performance, and mechanical reinforcement are required.
Phlogopite mica retains its crystalline sheet structure, mechanical integrity, and electrical insulation properties at temperatures up to approximately 900°C — far exceeding the ~500°C dehydroxylation limit of muscovite. This thermal advantage makes phlogopite the preferred mica for applications where sustained elevated temperatures are encountered.
High-Temperature Electrical Insulation: Phlogopite mica tape and sheet are used in fire-resistant cable construction, industrial furnace heating elements, and high-temperature capacitor dielectrics where the insulation must not degrade under fault-condition temperatures. Its dielectric strength (typically 100–200 kV/mm) remains stable at elevated temperatures.
Rubber Compounding — Flame-Retardant Extender: Ground phlogopite is used in both natural and synthetic rubber as a flame-retardant reinforcing extender. The platelet morphology of mica acts as a physical barrier to flame propagation — platelets align perpendicular to the direction of flame travel and impede the diffusion of volatile combustion products. For automotive under-bonnet sealing compounds and gaskets where service temperatures exceed 200°C, phlogopite is the only mica grade with sufficient thermal stability.
Plastic Films & Moisture Barrier: Phlogopite flakes in polymer films reduce moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) by creating a tortuous diffusion path. Used in packaging films, geomembranes and specialist barrier applications.
Dolomite powder [CaMg(CO₃)₂] is a cost-effective and technically effective reinforcing filler in both natural rubber (NR) and synthetic rubber compounds, including EPDM, NBR, and SBR. Unlike precipitated calcium carbonate — which can agglomerate and reduce tensile properties at high loading levels — dolomite's natural crystalline structure provides a more angular surface morphology that promotes interfacial bonding with the rubber matrix.
Tensile Strength & Elongation: At loadings of 20–60 phr (parts per hundred rubber), dolomite raises tensile strength while maintaining acceptable elongation-at-break, particularly when surface-treated with stearic acid or silane coupling agents to improve filler–polymer interface bonding.
Abrasion Resistance: Dolomite's Mohs hardness of 3.5–4 provides moderate abrasion resistance enhancement without the excessive compound viscosity increase associated with harder mineral fillers such as silica.
Flame Retardancy: The carbonate content of dolomite decomposes endothermically at ~800°C, releasing CO₂ which dilutes combustible gases and suppresses flame — a flame-retardant mechanism that complements other flame-retardant additives in the compound.
Mica sourced from India's Jharkhand and Bihar states has been subject to international scrutiny regarding child labour in informal artisanal mining. For cosmetics brands with supply chain due diligence obligations, the provenance of mica matters as much as its chemistry.
PIME sources mica exclusively from registered, mechanised Indian producers who operate under formalised mining leases — not from informal artisanal sources in the states associated with child labour concerns. Our producer relationships are governed by direct supplier agreements that include mandatory compliance with the Mines Act 1952, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
We conduct periodic on-site audits of our producing partners. Audit reports — including workforce age verification records, mine safety inspections, and legal mining lease documentation — are available to cosmetics brand customers as part of our supply chain transparency commitment. This documentation supports brands' own responsible sourcing declarations, Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) reporting, and ESG disclosure obligations.
PIME understands that cosmetics and specialty buyers require a complete documentation package — not just a Certificate of Analysis. The following documents are provided as standard or on request.
Batch-specific analysis covering particle size, brightness, moisture, and key chemical composition parameters. Issued per shipment.
REACH Annex II-aligned SDS covering substance identification, composition, handling, exposure limits and disposal. Available in English.
ICP-MS analysis from an accredited third-party laboratory covering Pb, As, Hg, Cd, Sb, Cr and Ni. Provided with every cosmetic-grade shipment.
Supplier audit records including mining lease verification, age-of-workforce documentation, and social compliance assessment. Available on request to qualifying buyers.
Confirmation of REACH registration status and any applicable classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) designations for the specific mica form supplied.
Pre-shipment inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek available on request. Covers quantity, quality and packing verification at the port of origin.
The combination of chemical purity, ethical sourcing credentials, and complete documentation makes PIME a preferred mica partner for cosmetics brands with serious compliance obligations.
On-site mine audits, legal lease verification, and no-child-labour certification — the documentation cosmetics brands need to stand behind their responsible sourcing claims with confidence.
Every cosmetic-grade shipment ships with ICP-MS third-party test reports confirming Pb <20 ppm, As <3 ppm, Hg <1 ppm and Cd <3 ppm — meeting EU and US regulatory thresholds.
Sheet mica, coarse flake, fine flake, ground powder, and ultra-fine sericite — both muscovite and phlogopite — enabling procurement consolidation across multiple application needs.
PIME's muscovite mica has natural brightness ≥ 80% (cosmetic grade ≥ 85%) and is processed without synthetic brighteners, bleaches, or surface treatments that would require additional regulatory classification.
Supplied in 25 kg multi-wall bags, 1 MT FIBC bulk bags, or full container quantities. Minimum order quantities are designed to suit cosmetics formulators, not only bulk industrial buyers.
PIME also supplies dolomite for rubber compounding — meaning rubber manufacturers can source both mica and dolomite from a single supplier with consistent documentation and freight coordination.
Questions from cosmetics formulators, rubber compound technologists, and procurement teams.
Tell us your application, grade requirements, and compliance documentation needs — we will provide technical data sheets, CoA, heavy-metals reports, and pricing within one business day.