Industrial grade 98% Aluminium phosphate CAS 7784-30-7

What is aluminum phosphate? What are its industrial applications?

1. What is Aluminium phosphate?

Aluminium phosphate, also known as aluminium monophosphate, is an inorganic salt manufactured from aluminium and phosphoric acid. It is a major inorganic binder in the refractory and ceramics industry. Most often its chemical formula is written as:

AlPO4 (CAS number: 7784-30-7, EC number: 232-056-9, molecular weight ~121.95)

At room temperature, it is a white powdery solid (rhomboid platy crystals). Its natural mineral (berlinite) has the same hexagonal crystal structure as quartz. It has a melting point of more than 1500℃ and a density of about 2.566 g/cm3. Its refractive index is 1.546. Insoluble in water and alcohol, slightly soluble in hydrochloric and nitric acids. Aluminium phosphate has a high melting point, high thermal stability, good refractoriness and wear resistance. It is obtained industrially by reaction of aluminium salts with phosphates, or by acidification of sodium aluminate solution with concentrated phosphoric acid. It is also widely used as a colloidal hydrate (AlPO4.xH2O.

Aluminium phosphate . Structure : Aluminium phosphate contains aluminium ions ( Al3+ ) and phosphate ions ( PO43- ) . It has the Al-OP framework structure that is isoelectronic with silicon dioxide (SiO2), so it has excellent high-temperature resistance, chemical stability and structural diversity. It is a high-temperature strong binder and also a molecular sieve framework with designable channels (AlPO4 molecular sieve series), so it is a dual-functional material of “high-temperature binding + catalytic support”.

Chemically, aluminium phosphate is chemically stable, insoluble in water and alcohols, resistant to acid and alkali corrosion (slightly soluble in strong acids), does not decompose at high temperature, has good compatibility with many inorganic materials, and is non-toxic and non-irritating. Store in a sealed, moisture-proof container.

Industrial-grade aluminium phosphate refers to products for industrial applications, such as refractories, glass ceramics, catalyst supports and coatings. Typical specifications are listed by content and fineness (e.g. above 98% content). Industrial grade products put more emphasis on the following indicators:

1.Content (purity of AlPO4)

The content defines the performance and catalytic activity of the binder. Industrial grade binders usually have more than 98% binder. Binder content is a key indicator of product specifications.

2. Alumina (Al2O3) content

The alumina content determines the high temperature performance and bonding strength, and together with phosphate content is the core indicators of product composition.

3.Content of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5)

The amount of phosphate influences the phosphoric acid content, which influences the acidity and catalytic activity of the binder and is strictly controlled.

4.Humidity

The moisture content has an effect on the stability of the binder formulation and storage and needs to be strictly controlled.

5.Loss of ignition

The loss on ignition is the amount of water of crystallisation and volatile components, and it will affect the performance in high-temperature applications, so it should be controlled in a reasonable range.

6. Fineness (residue on 325 mesh sieve)

Fineness affects the dispersibility of binder and size of the coating particles and needs to be controlled for application requirements and batch-to-batch consistency.

7. Iron content and water insoluble material

Water insoluble matter is an indicator of total impurities. Iron content affects the colour of the products and the performance of the catalyst. Both have to be controlled in reasonable range.

What are the uses of industrial-grade aluminium phosphate?

Industrial-grade aluminium phosphate has special properties of “high melting point, high thermal stability, and high temperature resistance”. It is used in a wide range of fields, such as that of refractory materials, glass ceramics, petrochemical, coatings, building materials, and electronics. Below you will find all its applications, by product and application field (nothing missing):

1. Binder of refractory (the primary application of refractory materials)

Aluminium phosphate is used as a binder in refractory bricks, refractory castables, ceramic fibre products and high temperature furnace linings. Widely used in the electrical industry, high temperature furnaces, heat treatment furnaces and kiln equipment to enable refractory materials to retain their strength and integrity at high temperatures. It is one of the most important binders of refractory materials.

2.Glass flux (core application in glass industry)

Aluminium phosphate is used as a flux in the manufacture of speciality glasses. It helps lower the melting temperature of glass and improves the glass properties. It is widely used in the manufacture of speciality glasses, opaque glasses and optical glasses.

3. Ceramic bonding agents (ceramics industry)

Aluminium phosphate is a binder in ceramic bodies, glazes and ceramic products and helps the ceramic product retain strength during moulding and firing. It is widely used in ceramic tiles, sanitary ware and industrial ceramics.

4. Dental cement (in dentistry)

Aluminium phosphate is used as a component of dental cement (cementing agent) to assist dental restorations (crowns, bridges) in bonding to teeth and is a commonly used material in dental restorative treatment.

5. Catalyst support (main application in the petrochemical industry)

Aluminium phosphate is a precursor of the AlPO4 molecular sieve series and aluminium phosphate supports. It serves as a support for petrochemical catalysts and as a catalyst for reactions such as isomerisation and dehydration, thus improving the selectivity and yield of reactions. It is an important material for oil refining and for chemical catalysis.

6.Pigments for rust prevention (coatings industry)

Ultrafine aluminium phosphate (aluminium tripolyphosphate) is used as an anti-rust pigment in anticorrosive paints. It helps to release the anti-rust groups with strong coordination ability and passivates the metal surfaces. It is commonly used as an antirust primer for steel structures, automobiles and ships.

7. Fire-retardant coatings and fire-retardant textiles (area of fire protection and flame retardant)

Aluminium phosphate is used as an additive in fire-retardant coatings and fire-retardant textiles to help improve flame resistance and fire rating of materials. It is widely used in fire retardant coating, fire retardant fabric and building flame retardant products.

8. Additives for conductive cement (field of building materials)

Aluminium phosphate is used as an additive in conductive cement and speciality cement for the improvement of electrical conductivity and structural properties of cement. It is used in speciality building materials and engineering applications.

9. Friction and diaphragm materials (industrial materials field)

Aluminium phosphate can be used as asbestos substitute, friction material (brake pads) and battery separator material which contributes to better heat resistance and mechanical properties of the material.

10.Insulation and reinforcing materials (field of thermal insulation materials)

Aluminium phosphate is used as an ingredient in thermal insulation materials, reinforcing materials, and thermal insulation coatings, to help improve the heat resistance and structural strength of materials, and is used in the thermal insulation, energy conservation, and high temperature protection industries.

11. Piezoelectric Materials (Field of Electronic Materials)

Aluminium phosphate crystals possess piezoelectric properties analogous to quartz and are used as piezoelectric materials for frequency control and sensing applications in electronic devices.

12.Catalysts for synthesis of organic compounds (fine chemical industry)

Aluminium phosphate is used as a catalyst in organic production reactions, catalysing reactions such as dehydration and esterification, serving the fine chemical intermediates industry.

13.Textile stain resistant agents (textile industry)

The textile industry uses aluminium phosphate as a stain-resistant agent. It is used to serve the textile finishing industry and helps to improve the stain resistance of fabrics.

14.Paper making additives (Paper making industry)

It is used as an additive in paper industry to improve paper properties and processing techniques.

15.Softening additives (daily chemical industry)

Aluminium phosphate is used in the daily chemical industry as an additive component in emollients (skincare products) to help improve skin feel and product performance.

Please be aware that industrial grade specifications do not mean “risk free”: while aluminium phosphate is non-toxic, industrial grade dust can cause respiratory irritation and so protective equipment should be used and ventilation maintained during operation; industrial grade products are strictly forbidden for ingestion and waste materials must be disposed of in accordance with regulations.

Summarize

Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4, CAS No. 7784-30-7, EC No. 232-056-9) is a white powder solid with a melting point higher than 1500 °C. It is insoluble in water and has become an important inorganic binder in the refractory and ceramic industries due to its high melting point, high thermal stability and Al-OP framework structure. We see it in everyday life as high temperature resistant products, ceramic and glass products, petrochemical products, protective coatings and dental materials. Aluminium phosphate is widely used in industry as a binder for refractory materials , glass flux, ceramic adhesive, dental cement, catalyst carrier, rust-preventing pigment, fire-retardant coating and fire-retardant textile, conductive cement additive, friction material and diaphragm material, thermal insulation reinforcing material, piezoelectric material, organic production catalyst, textile stain-resistant agent, papermaking additive, and skin-moisturizing additive. A versatile high temperature inorganic material is connected to "refractory materials, glass and ceramics, petrochemicals, coatings, building materials, electronics and dentistry".Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4, CAS No. 7784-30-7, EC No. 232-056-9) is a white powder solid with a melting point above 1500℃. It is insoluble in water and, due to its high melting point, high thermal stability, and Al-OP framework structure, has become an important inorganic binder in the refractory and ceramic industries. In daily life, we encounter it through high-temperature resistant products, ceramic and glass products, petrochemical products, protective coatings, and dental materials. In industry, aluminum phosphate is widely used as a binder in refractory materials, a glass flux, a ceramic adhesive, dental cement, a catalyst carrier, a rust-preventive pigment, a fire-retardant coating and fire-retardant textile, a conductive cement additive, a friction material and diaphragm material, a thermal insulation reinforcing material, a piezoelectric material, an organic synthesis catalyst, a textile stain-resistant agent, a papermaking additive, and a skin-moisturizing additive. It is a versatile high-temperature inorganic material that connects "phosphate chemistry" with "refractory materials, glass and ceramics, petrochemicals, coatings, building materials, electronics, and dentistry."