Microwave mica plate

During the period of using the microwave, a situation may arise when sparks are observed in the middle when turned on. The first thought of the user is to send it for repair. Quite often, a problem that at first glance seems serious can be corrected on your own. Namely, to replace the burnt out mica.

Mica for microwaves: what function it performs, the reasons for burning out, how to replace it at home - this will be discussed below.

microwave inside — Surely many have noticed that there is a small rectangular plate inside the microwave.

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Microwave function
What to do if it burns out (+ reasons for burning out)
How to replace mica with your own hands
- How to make a plate with your own hands
- What can replace mica in the microwave
How to care for your microwave
Video: replacing mica in the microwave

Microwave function

In microwave ovens, mica plays the role of a protective shield for the magnetron, and plays a number of important functions. Namely:

Allows to transfer high temperatures to magnetron and waveguide;
Protects important parts from dirt and grease;
Provides uniform wave distribution;
Protects magnetron and waveguide from moisture.

microwave inside photo — It is the mica plate that covers the opening of the waveguide and prevents its contamination.

Over time, the mica plate in any microwave oven can deteriorate. This is indicated by the lack of heating or sparking.

mica in the microwave — This is a kind of protective screen, which can be damaged if used incorrectly.

Note! Replacement may not only be required if the plate burns out. If it is heavily soiled, soaked or scratched, the microwave oven is not working properly.

What to do if it burns out (+ reasons for burning out)

If cracking and sparking is observed, or even the microwave does not heat the food at all, then you should immediately resort to troubleshooting. Here it is important to identify the true cause of the breakdown:

burnt / unusable mica;
damaged enamel;
important elements of the microwave oven are out of order.

microwave mica — Without a mica screen, the microwave oven will quickly become unusable.

In the case of the first option, you can fix the breakdown without specialists. To do this, it is enough to remove the old plate and install a new one. In other moments, you cannot do without the help of professionals.

Factors indicating that the mica plate is out of order:

black dots are observed on the plate;
the protective layer has become black;
the plate began to crumble or delaminate;
mica is covered with grease and food debris that gets in during the heating process.

If one of the listed options is observed, then you can begin the process of replacing mica. This task can be handled by a user who does not have any special skills. The replacement algorithm will be discussed later.

burnt mica in the microwave — If a crackling sound is heard when the microwave oven is turned on, and sparks jump in the chamber, then it is time to change the mica plate that covers the exit of the waveguide into the chamber.

Important! Respect for the microwave oven contributes to its long service life. To prevent premature burnout of mica, some recommendations should be followed.

Reasons for burning out:

Splashes when reheating food. Food residues, drops of fat that fall on the plate absorb the radiated energy and heat up.In the future, this contributes to the process of sparking and burning of mica.
Heating a small amount of food (less than 100 grams). Idle operation of the microwave oven causes breakdowns on the plate. With each launch, they increase and, ultimately, render mica unusable.

microwave heating — Mica for microwave ovens is chosen by manufacturers because it is transparent to microwaves, not electrically conductive, and can withstand high temperatures.

In order to prevent such negative consequences, when heating food, experts recommend using a special lid, put that vessel that will not touch the walls, and prevent the oven from idling. So you can protect yourself from damage to important elements of the microwave.

microwave heating photo — Stock up on containers that you can cook in without harming the microwave.

How to replace mica with your own hands

Replacing mica in the microwave is a simple process, but it requires attention and care. You can do this yourself at home. You will need a minimum set of tools and confidence in your actions.

How to make a plate with your own hands

Why you need mica for the microwave is understandable. It remains to figure out how to make a plate with your own hands.

Purchase of a new plate. You can buy material in specialty stores or search the Internet.
Removing the burned-out sheet. Each model may have a different mount. In some, the plate is fastened with self-tapping screws, in others - with special plastic latches.
Cleansing the old sheet from dirt. The burned-out plate will act as a stencil on which it is easy to cut a new one. Therefore, the application of the old screen to the new mica should be carried out after complete cleaning of contamination.
Cutting out a new plate. The best way to do this is to use a sharp clerical knife. Holes required can be drilled or punctured with an awl. After the cut out sheet, it is necessary to wipe it with sandpaper to remove the resulting irregularities.
Clean the area where the mica shield will be attached.
Inspect the parts. To make sure there are no other faults, remove the magnetron, inspect the protective cap. If it burns out, it should be replaced. Clean all contaminated areas, clean with sandpaper. Places with peeling enamel should be tinted with a special dye.
Installing a new sheet. Placing in a special pocket, the sheet is easily attached to the right place.

Upon completion of the work, it should be checked for operability.

Additional Information! You should turn on the microwave only with moisture-containing foods in the middle. Idle startup is not recommended.

microwave with food — Do not start the oven empty, put at least a cup of water.

What can replace mica in the microwave

If you find it difficult to buy new mica, you can resort to using a different material.

mica plate for microwave — Mica is vapor-permeable in both directions, so the steam accumulated during the cooking process freely escapes from the waveguide to the outside when the oven cools down

Important! When choosing a material, you should make sure that it has the properties that are extremely necessary in the operation of a microwave. An improperly selected mica substitute can lead to short circuits or hazardous substances.

plate mica — Thanks to the development of online commerce, such material can be easily ordered on the Internet.

Required material properties:

non-toxicity;
do not accumulate electricity;
do not melt at high temperatures;
good steam permeability.

Fluoroplastic possesses such criteria. It is a heat-resistant dielectric that does not absorb moisture and grease.

Food grade plastic is another alternative. It is much more durable, more reliable. But it has a high price tag.

How to care for your microwave

In order for the microwave oven to please for a long time with trouble-free operation, you should adhere to the basic rules for its operation and care.

Reheat a volume of food over 100 grams. In doing so, always use a special cover that does not allow grease and food residues to be splashed on the walls of the oven. It is not recommended to turn on the microwave when empty.
Use the correct utensils. Special cookware made of heat-resistant glass or ceramics does not emit harmful substances and does not adversely affect the operation of the microwave. It is forbidden to use metal utensils with gold and silver patterns, containers that do not withstand high temperatures.
Wall cleaning should be done immediately after cooking. Before they have time to dry, they can be removed with an ordinary damp sponge. To clean up old dirt, use mild detergent solutions. Strong chemicals can damage the enamel.
When the first signs of a malfunction appear, it is not recommended to use a microwave oven. You can continue to operate after identifying and eliminating breakdowns.

Summing up, it should be noted that the mica plate plays an important role in the operation of the microwave. Improper use can lead to burnout of the protective sheet. You can replace mica at home without having any special knowledge. This will require a new sheet and a minimal set of tools.

microwave mica photo — Despite the seeming complexity of the process, even a housewife who does not understand anything about electrical engineering can change the plate in the microwave with her own hands.

If the problem of the malfunction is the breakdown of important elements, then you should resort to the help of professionals. In addition to mica, the protective shield can be made of materials such as fluoroplastic or food grade plastic. It is important to remember that the lifespan of a microwave oven is directly related to its care.