What other uses does aluminum hydroxide have besides as a flame retardant? (Part 1)

Aluminum hydroxide is the hydroxide compound of aluminum. Currently, the market for aluminum hydroxide is growing at an increasingly rapid pace, with many companies entering production. Today, we will introduce the primary uses of aluminum hydroxide. Commonly available aluminum hydroxide on the market primarily comes in two grades: industrial-grade and pharmaceutical-grade. Today, we will focus specifically on industrial-grade aluminum hydroxide. The main applications of aluminum hydroxide are as follows:

1. As a Flame Retardant

Aluminum hydroxide filler serves as an ideal eco-friendly flame retardant filler for plastics and organic polymers. Being a pure white powdered solid with particle size adjustable for processing, it is non-toxic and harmless. After incorporation as a filler, its whiteness remains stable, offering three key functions: filling, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression. When plastics or polymers ignite upon contact with an external heat source, combustion progresses through several stages: Heating, decomposition, ignition, combustion, and spread. All flame retardants operate by inhibiting one or more of these combustion stages to achieve fire suppression.

2. Use as a Papermaking Filler

Aluminum hydroxide filler is primarily used in the papermaking industry for surface coatings, fillers, and the production of non-combustible paper. Internationally, aluminum hydroxide filler has been employed as a coating pigment since the 1940s and 1950s, whereas its application remains unexplored in China. As a coating pigment, aluminum hydroxide filler offers numerous advantages: High whiteness, fine particle size with uniform distribution, and a plate-like morphology. When used as a pigment, it enhances the whiteness, opacity, smoothness, and ink absorbency of coated paper. Replacing titanium dioxide with aluminum hydroxide allows cost savings without compromising paper whiteness or opacity, while improving paper gloss and enhancing printing performance.

3. Application in Toothpaste Formulations

The primary function of toothpaste is to remove dental plaque without damaging gums. This requires a mild abrasive, and aluminum hydroxide filler's gentle friction properties perfectly meet this need for cleaning and polishing teeth. Its chemical inertness ensures compatibility with other toothpaste ingredients. Furthermore, aluminum hydroxide filler exhibits excellent encapsulation properties, making it widely used in medicinal toothpastes and premium-grade toothpastes.