Aluminum hydroxide is the hydroxide of aluminum. It is an amphoteric hydroxide which can react with acid to produce salt and water, and can react with strong base to produce salt and water. The chemical formula of aluminum hydroxide is Al(OH)3. It is a base with a certain acide. So it is also called aluminic acid (H3AlO3). When reacting with base, it produces meta-aluninate. So usually it is regarded as a partial aluminate hydrate (HAlO2•H2O). Based on the applications, aluminum hydroxide can be divided into industrial and medical types.
Aluminum hydroxide is an inorganic flame retardant additive with the largest consumption and widest application. As flame retardant additive, aluminum hydroxide can not only retard fire, but also can prevent smoke, avoid dripping and toxic gas. So it has a wide application with increasing consumption. Aluminum hydroxide is mainly used in thermosetting plastic, thermoplastic plastic, synthetic rubber, paints and building materials. It is also the basic material of aluminum fluoride for aluminum electrolysis industry and has a wide application in this field.