Mica tubes present a considerable challenge to manufacture consistently, particularly to exacting tolerances. The winding process has to be manual with the mica paper being wound on mandrels. The mandrels are of a metallic alloy with a low expansion coefficient, but even so their temperatures during winding have to be carefully controlled. This is also true of the resin and mica paper, with the final paper roll length being calculated daily to ensure that the resulting outer diameter is within tolerance. Tube rolling is a real art because the paper has to be rolled fast, square and with no creases or trapped air.
We specialise in the manufacture of precision mica tubes to customers' drawings where dimensional accuracy, concentricity and repeatability exceed the capability of the vast majority of mica tube suppliers. We combine our technical support and innovation with an experienced manufacturing partner whose processes have been refined specifically in cooperation with ourselves to meet our demanding industrial applications.
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OUR CAPABILITY
- Tubes manufactured to customer drawings
- Outside diameter: to customer specification
- Inside diameter: to customer specification
- Chamfers: centred and accurately machined
- Length: precision cutting
APPLICATIONS
Electrically insulated fireproof structural components in:
- Robotic welding
- Plasma equipment
- Resistance welding
- Industrial furnaces
- High-temperature insulation
- Wind turbines (mica-steel stringers and support rods)
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The superior thermal resistance and electrical insulation of our mica tubes renders them the top choice for welding torch heads in robotic and resistance welding, plasma equipment, induction heating, furnaces, electrical insulation and high-temperature assemblies.
As the base materials we offer muscovite, phlogopite or synthetic mica, bonded with silicone resin. For several reasons, synthetic mica is now growing in popularity. Our materials are RoHS and SVHC compliant.
Mica-based materials are hard to chamfer and cut cleanly as the edges tend to crumble. We have specially designed equipment both for chamfering and cutting, our chamfer machine guaranteeing a centred chamfer to the required angle and our saw guaranteeing fast cutting, clean perpendicular edges and precise lengths.
Comparison of Mica Types
| Property |
Muscovite |
Phlogopite |
Synthetic |
| Electrical insulation |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| Continuous service temperature |
600°C |
800°C |
1200°C |
| Short-term temperature capability |
Lower |
Higher |
Higher |
| Mechanical flexibility at high temperature |
Good |
Better |
Good |
| Fire survival |
Good |
Better |
Better |