Method of making aluminum phosphate

A method for making a shaped article consisting essentially of aluminum metaphosphate comprising mixing in reactive proportions a phosphoric acid or a phosphorous acid with

• 1. an organic aluminum compound represented by the structural formula:
• Al(OR).sub.3
• wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl groups containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, phenyl and alkaryl groups containing from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, or
• 2. the hydrolysis product of Al(OR).sub.3 wherein R is defined above, forming a clear, liquid reaction product mixture, mixing the liquid reaction product mixture with dry finely divided aluminum metaphosphate until a smooth, pourable paste is obtained, pouring the paste into a mold to obtain a molded product, thereafter heating the molded product to a sufficiently elevated temperature of at least 100.degree. C. for a sufficient period of time to obtain a dimensionally stable article consisting essentially of aluminum metaphosphate.