Abstract: A porous mullite composition is made by forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite (e.g., clay, alumina, silica) and a property enhancing compound. The property enhancing compound is a compound having an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, B, Y, Sc, La and combination thereof. The mixture is shaped and to form a porous green shape which is heated under an atmosphere having a fluorine containing gas to a temperature sufficient to form a mullite composition comprised substantially of acicular mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound.

Abstract: A porous mullite composition is made by forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite (e.g., clay, alumina, silica) and a property enhancing compound. The property enhancing compound is a compound having an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, B, Y, Sc, La and combination thereof. The mixture is shaped and to form a porous green shape which is heated under an atmosphere having a fluorine containing gas to a temperature sufficient to form a mullite composition comprised substantially of acicular mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound.

Abstract: A porous mullite composition is made by Forming a mixture of one or more precursor compounds having the elements present in mullite (e.g., clay, alumina, silica) and a property enhancing compound. The property enhancing compound is a compound having an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, B, Y, Sc, La and combination thereof. The mixture is shaped and to form a porous green shape which is heated under an atmosphere having a fluorine containing gas to a temperature sufficient to form a mullite composition comprised substantially of acicular mullite grains that are essentially chemically bound.

Abstract: A method of forming a porous mullite composition of acicular mullite grains having improved properties is described, where the mullite is formed at some time in the presence of a fluorine containing gas. For example, it has been discovered that improved properties may result from heating the mullite to a high temperature in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of water vapor, oxygen, an inert gas or mixtures thereof or forming the mullite composition from precursors having an AL/Si ratio of at most 2.95.

Abstract: A boron containing ceramic-aluminum metal composite is formed by mixing a boron containing ceramic with a metal powder comprised of aluminum or alloy thereof, shaping the mixture into a porous preform, contacting the preform with an infiltrating metal comprised of aluminum or alloy thereof that melts at a lower temperature than the metal powder and heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the infiltrating metal, but insufficient to melt the metal powder, such that the infiltrating metal infiltrates the porous preform to form the composite. The composite that is formed may be used for vehicular parts.