Natural mica is a group of silicate minerals that form in layers. Synthetic mica is created in a laboratory through a process of melting and recrystallizing the same materials that make up natural mica. This controlled process results in a purer and more consistent product compared to natural mica.
Geopearl® Crystal is a range of premium quality synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments suitable for plastic applications. The characteristic shimmer of Geopearl® Crystal pearlescent pigments has been designed to match the unique lustre of natural pearls.
A decade ago, synthetic mica was significantly more expensive than natural mica, limiting its widespread adoption in plastics. However, recent years have seen a surge in the supply of synthetic mica, leading to a decrease in prices. This increased availability and affordability have made synthetic mica an attractive option for plastic applications.
At GEOTECH, we believe that synthetic mica represents the future of special effect pigments in the plastics industry. As the demand for high-performance plastics continues to grow, we anticipate that synthetic mica will play an increasingly bigger role. Its ability to enhance mechanical properties, thermal stability and dimensional accuracy makes it an ideal choice for plastic based consumer products.
Synthetic mica based effect pigments are most commonly used in thermoplastics, which are plastics that can be melted and reshaped repeatedly. The larger Geopearl® Crystal particle sizes offer a microplastic-free alternative for creating glitter-like effects, particularly in polycarbonate (PC). These larger particles effectively mimic glitter’s visual appeal in PC applications. Geopearl® Crystal is also used in ABS, PP, and HDPE to enhance product appearance. The Geopearl® Crystal range provides excellent batch-to-batch consistency and complies to plastic regulations for food contact and toys safety. Its production process also ensures high-temperature resistance up to 900 °C, making it ideal for masterbatches.
The product range includes the following types:
– Crystal silver/white synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments
– Crystal interference synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments
– Crystal golden synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments
– Crystal metallic synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments
– Crystal colour travel synthetic mica based pearlescent pigments
To help you achieve the best results with our pigments, we developed formulation guidelines in our Geopearl® Crystal Plastics brochure
Special effect pigments for the plastic industry
Geotech International B.V., founded in 1984, manufactures and distributes special effect pigments. We are a privately owned family business with offices in The Netherlands, France and Turkey. A global sales network serves over 800 customers worldwide with 16 product lines.
Nowadays the company is managed by the third generation, focusing on innovation and sustainability. GEOTECH’s sustainability program has been recognized by EcoVadis for its success, consistently placing us among the top-rated companies they assess. A certified quality management system based on ISO 9001 and GMP standards ensures reliability and excellence.
With over 450 special effect pigments in our portfolio we offer a diverse range of products for the plastics industry. An experienced team of specialists is available to provide you with a high level of service and technical support.
GEOTECH has more than 50 years of experience in the field of special effect pigments for plastic applications. Our pigments are used worldwide in extrusion, co-extrusion and injection moulding. The special effect pigments are mainly incorporated into colour concentrates, named master batches, to give colour and effect to various types of plastics such as ABS, PP, PE and many more.
