What insiders really say about aluminum hydroxide

If you work in cables, pharma, or even cosmetics, you’ve bumped into this quiet workhorse more times than you realize. And yes, I’ve toured a few plants—powder everywhere, immaculate QC labs, the whole scene. Trends? Halogen‑free flame retardancy is booming, pharma supply chains want steadier quality, and formulators keep asking for tighter distributions and surface-treated grades. Not glamorous, but it pays the bills.

What it is and why it matters

aluminum hydroxide is a white, amorphous powder, insoluble in water, valued as a halogen‑free flame retardant/filler (ATH), an antacid active, a vaccine adjuvant base (in gel form), and a pigment extender in personal care. The product from Tenger Chemical (Origin: 3-2-501, North Courtyard, West District, Jiuli Courtyard, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei, China) aims at exactly those markets. Honestly, demand looks steady-to-strong, especially where low smoke toxicity is a must.

Typical specs you’ll actually use

How it’s made (short version)

Materials: sodium aluminate liquor from Bayer process; seed crystals; deionized water. Method: controlled precipitation and aging, multi‑stage washing to cut Na2O, low‑temp drying, milling/classification; optional silane or stearate surface treatments. QC: particle size (ISO 13320), moisture/LOI (ISO 787/ASTM E1131), whiteness, Na2O content, sieve residue. Service life in polymers: around 10–25 years in building cable jackets—real‑world use may vary with polymer, UV, and humidity.

Where it’s used (and what people say)

• Wire & cable (EVA/EPDM/PE): 40–65 phr aluminum hydroxide to reach UL 94 V‑0 at 3.2 mm; reduces smoke and acidity. Many customers say dispersion is the make‑or‑break detail.
• Thermoset compounds (UP/epoxy): ATH boosts flame resistance and improves arc‑track performance.
• Pharma antacids: gel/finely milled aluminum hydroxide for ANC compliance; excipient grades must meet USP/Ph.Eur.
• Vaccines (adjuvant base): specific gel forms—compliance and biocompatibility are non‑negotiable.
• Cosmetics: pigment coating/matting; INCI: aluminum hydroxide.

Vendor snapshot

Customization, standards, and testing

Options: silane/stearate-treated aluminum hydroxide for better polymer wetting, low‑iron grades for optics, pharma grades aligned to GMP partners. Test references: UL 94 for flammability of end products; ISO 4589 (LOI) in polymers; ISO 13320 for particle size; USP‑NF monographs for antacid gel. Compliance: REACH registered, RoHS conformant; SDS/CoA on batch.

Mini case studies (real‑world-ish)

• Halogen‑free cable jacket: EVA + 55 phr aluminum hydroxide, silane‑treated. Result: UL 94 V‑0 at 3.2 mm, LOI ≈ 28–30%, peak heat release down ≈ 25% vs. baseline EVA; smoke density cut ≈ 40% (lab compounding, twin‑screw, 180–200 °C).
• OTC antacid suspension: micronized aluminum hydroxide with syneresis control; ANC met USP targets after 6‑month ICH stability at 25 °C/60% RH—taste masked with minimal sodium impact.

Honestly, the biggest pitfalls are moisture pickup during storage and over‑shear in compounding. Keep bags sealed, and don’t push melt temps past the endotherm unless you like surprises.

Citations

1. ECHA REACH Dossier: Aluminium hydroxide
2. UL 94 Flammability of Plastic Materials
3. ISO 13320: Particle size analysis — Laser diffraction
4. USP–NF Monographs (Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, Antacids)