Hydrotalcite-like materials having a sheet-like morphology and process for production thereof

A process for producing hydrotalcite-like material having a sheet like morphology and having an average broadness to thickness ratio ranging from 50 to 5000 and having the following formula:

• (Mg.sub.1-x Al.sub.x)(OH).sub.2.xA.mH.sub.2 O
• where A is a mono carboxylic anion of the form RCOO.sup.-, where R is of the formula C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 and n=0-5, x is a number ranging between 0.2 and 0.4 and m is a number between 0 and 4, said process comprising reacting a mixture of divalent metal cations comprising at least 50 mole percent magnesium cations and trivalent metal cations comprising at least 50 mole percent aluminum cations, said divalent metal cations and trivalent metal cations being present in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 10:1 with mono carboxylic anion having 1-6 carbon atoms, in an aqueous slurry at a temperature of at least 40.degree. C., at a pH from 7 to about 12, and at a ratio of mono carboxylic anion to trivalent metal cation of about 0.1 to about 1.2:1, followed by drying said slurry at a temperature of at least 40.degree. C. to crystallize a hydrotalcite-like material having a sheet-like morphology and having an average broadness to thickness ratio ranging from 50 to 5000.