Fibrous composite metal hydroxide and process for the production thereof

Abstract

A fibrous composite metal hydroxide containing a small amount of hexagonal-plate-like magnesium hydroxide and being therefore advantageously useful as a reinforcing material for resins and rubbers. The crystal water elimination temperature thereof can be set at any point between the crystal water elimination temperature of magnesium hydroxide and that of aluminum hydroxide. This fibrous composite metal hydroxide is excellent in flame retardancy and acid resistance. The fibrous composite metal hydroxide has an aspect ratio of about 10 or more, an average diameter of approximately 0.1 to 10 .mu.m and an average length of approximately 2 to 1,000 .mu.m, and having the formula (1), M.sup.2+.sub.x Mg.sub.1-x (OH).sub.2 (1) wherein M is at least one member selected from Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn and x is defined by 0.005<x<0.5.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.