Micarta

Micarta is a registered trademark of the American company Norplex, Inc. (Norplex - Micarta).

Micarta is a trade name for high-density laminated composite. It is made from various fibers and materials soaked in resin. The compound is subsequently compressed and cured - pressed under high pressure and at high temperatures. The base material can be linen fibers, cotton canvas, cork, paper, fiberglass, carbon fibers, and other materials. The resin can be epoxy, silicone, melamine, phenolic, or others.

Properties of Micarta material

The material produced in this way is lightweight, very durable, and strong. Micarta looks somewhat better and more attractive than G-10. Micarta is a material that is smooth to the touch. It is a hard material and does not scratch easily (even though many sources online claim otherwise, it's misinformation; in reality, Micarta is definitely harder than most types of wood, even ivory, bone, horn, or antler). However, it does not have any surface texture on its own, so it might slip in the hand.

Therefore, especially for handles made from this laminate, additional manual texturing is created, leading to a higher knife price with a Micarta handle. Nonetheless, it is very popular for its strength and stability, and its use for knife handle production is common. A disadvantage is the higher brittleness of this composite. Micarta laminate is water-resistant and the handle from it holds well even in wet or humid conditions. It is also an excellent insulator. Like G-10, Micarta material is available in many colors and shades, and the manufacturing method allows, due to the use of differently colored layers, achieving a unique appearance and patterns on the handle. Handles made of Micarta laminate are carved into the desired shape from larger sheets (panels).

Uses of Micarta material

The use of Micarta material is very diverse. This composite is primarily used to make handles or scales for knives and handles for guns, but also pens, various electrical insulators (which is also the original purpose of this material – electrical insulator), printed circuit boards, and it has other varied uses.

Due to the great similarity in composition and agreement in the manufacturing process, we may sometimes encounter the interchange of the materials Micarta and G-10.