Muscovite Mica Substrates

Overview

Muscovite mica is a naturally occurring layered silicate mineral that cleaves into atomically flat sheets, making it one of the most widely used substrates for thin-film deposition, replication, and atomic force microscopy. SPI Supplies offers muscovite mica in several popular grades, V-1, V-4, and V-5, which differ in the size and number of surface inclusions, plus phlogopite mica as an alternative sheet silicate. Because freshly cleaved mica exposes a clean, chemically inert, atomically smooth surface, it is a standard support for DNA and protein imaging by AFM as well as for evaporated metal and semiconductor thin-film growth. SPI Supplies also provides instructional video guidance on techniques for cleaving mica sheets prior to use.

Mica Grades

Grade V-1 is the highest optical quality with the fewest inclusions, making it the preferred choice for the most demanding AFM and thin-film work. Grades V-4 and V-5 contain progressively more surface imperfections and are used for less critical applications where cost is a greater consideration. Phlogopite mica is offered as a related sheet-silicate substrate for applications not requiring muscovite's optical clarity.

Sizes and Thicknesses

Mica substrates are supplied as discs from 3 mm to 25 mm in diameter and as rectangular sheets ranging from about 15 x 15 mm up to 100 x 100 mm. Standard thicknesses include 0.15 mm (0.006 in) and 0.26 to 0.325 mm (0.010-0.012 in), supplied in packs of roughly 20 to 100 pieces.

Specifications