Micarta

<p>We hear the word “Micarta” used quite a bit in our industry, and it’s used in association with several different, but similar materials. &nbsp;The similarities being that the materials are all high performance thermoset composite materials that are manufactured via resin impregnation and various lamination techniques.&nbsp; The differences are many, including color, resin, reinforcement materials, as well as the mechanical properties of the specific grade of Micarta.&nbsp;</p><p>Micarta has a long history that dates back to the early 20<sup>th</sup> century.&nbsp; It was originally developed by George Westinghouse, the American inventor and industrialist, as an electrical insulating material for electrical equipment.&nbsp; Westinghouse developed Micarta by impregnating layers of fabric, such as cotton or linen, with phenolic resin, then basically compressing and curing them under high pressure and heat.&nbsp; The result is a fully cured sheet of Micarta that can then be converted into finished parts.&nbsp;</p><p>Over the years, Micarta has evolved with different variations incorporating various types of fabric and resin combinations to achieve specific properties such as increased strength, higher resistance to heat and certain chemicals.&nbsp; While Micarta was originally developed using phenolic resin, it can also be made using other types of resins such as epoxy resin or polyester resin among others.&nbsp; The choice depends on the specific application and requirements of the end product.&nbsp;</p><p>Some common grades of Micarta include:</p><ul><li>Canvas Micarta:&nbsp;Made with layers of canvas fabric and resin</li><li>Linen Micarta:&nbsp;Made with layers of linen fabric and resin.</li><li>Paper Micarta:&nbsp;Made with layers of various types of paper and resin.</li><li>Carbon Fiber Micarta:&nbsp;Made with layers of carbon fiber fabric and resin.</li><li>G-10:&nbsp;While not technically Micarta, G-10 is a similar composite material made with layers of fiberglass and epoxy resin.&nbsp;</li></ul><p>If you have an upcoming project that requires any cnc machined Micarta parts, give us a call or send us a quote request on our <a href="https://insulfab.com/quote" target="_blank">quote</a> page. </p>