Micarta
Description
[Norplex-Micarta] A registered trademark for a group of laminated plastics. Micarta® was developed by George Westinghouse in 1910 as an electrical insulator. During World War I it was used as a strong, lightweight material in airplanes. The original laminate used phenolic or melamine resins to bond multiple sheets of paper or fabric. The paper or fabric was composed of cellulose, fiberglass, asbestos, or synthetic fibers. The fibers are saturated with the phenolic resin then cured with elevated temperature and pressure. Micarta is still used for knife handles, large containers, equipment covers, insulation as well as for interior decorative applications such as countertops. The name 'micarta' is now used for various types of laminated products. Some types include:
- Reinforcements: Paper, Cloth (cotton, linen, canvas), Cork, Synthetic fibers (polyester, PTFE, aramid, blends), Inorganics fibers (fiberglass, asbestos), Carbon fibers
- Thermoplastic resin: Phenolic, Melamine, Epoxy, Silicone,
- Additives: alumina, graphite, PTFE, Molly
Applications
- Grips: Knives, gun handles, pool cues, guitar fingerboards
- Industrial: Bearings, bushings, wear strips, pump parts, electrical insulators, circuit boards, impact pads, wear strips, hard hats
- Decorative: Tabletops, wall paneling, and appliance surfaces
- Transportation: insulation, structural parts, propellers, pulleys
Risks
Physical and Chemical Properties
Working Properties
- Easy to saw, tap, drill and machine with standard tools, as it doesn’t soften on re-heating.
Resources and Citations
- Norplex-Micarta: Website; Composite Materials brochure
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 792
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- Thomas C. Jester (ed.), Twentieth-Century Building Materials, McGraw-Hill Companies, Washington DC, 1995
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
- Wikipedia: Micarta (Accessed Feb. 10, 2006 and Dec 2025) developed as early as 1910 ..factory originally near Pittsburgh...move to SC in 1950s ... sold to Nevamar Corp. about 1990...sold to Norplex about 2000