Abstract: A method of preparing an aluminum metaphosphate (ALMP) particulate product includes charging a milling chamber of a ball mill with grinding media and loading an ALMP feedstock into the milling chamber. The ALMP feedstock is milled with the grinding media into ALMP particles at a particle reduction index in a range from 0.25 to 0.5. At a plurality of time steps during a period in which the milling is carried out, a fine fraction of the ALMP particles is removed from the milling chamber while a coarse fraction of the ALMP particles remains in the milling chamber for additional milling. An ALMP particulate product with a particle size distribution having a median particle size in a range from 100 ?m to 700 ?m is prepared from the ALMP particles removed from the milling chamber.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb article includes a primary cordierite phase and an intercrystalline glass phase. In an as-fired condition, the porous ceramic honeycomb article exhibits microcrack parameter Nb3?0.06 and an as-fired E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?0.99. The article exhibits a coated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.14 and a coated E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?1.06 after the porous ceramic honeycomb article has been washcoated and calcined at a temperature of 550° C. After the article is exposed to a thermal treatment at a temperature ?800° C. following washcoating and calcining, at least a first portion of the porous ceramic honeycomb article has a first treated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.18, and a first treated mean coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 12×10?7/° C. over a temperature range of 25° C. to 800° C. Methods of forming the porous ceramic honeycomb article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aluminum metaphosphate (ALMP) particulate product includes charging a milling chamber of a ball mill with grinding media and loading an ALMP feedstock into the milling chamber. The ALMP feedstock is milled with the grinding media into ALMP particles at a particle reduction index in a range from 0.25 to 0.5. At a plurality of time steps during a period in which the milling is carried out, a fine fraction of the ALMP particles is removed from the milling chamber while a coarse fraction of the ALMP particles remains in the milling chamber for additional milling. An ALMP particulate product with a particle size distribution having a median particle size in a range from 100 ?m to 700 ?m is prepared from the ALMP particles removed from the milling chamber.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb article includes a primary cordierite phase and an intercrystalline glass phase. In an as-fired condition, the porous ceramic honeycomb article exhibits microcrack parameter Nb3?0.06 and an as-fired E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?0.99. The article exhibits a coated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.14 and a coated E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?1.06 after the porous ceramic honeycomb article has been washcoated and calcined at a temperature of 550° C. After the article is exposed to a thermal treatment at a temperature ?800° C. following washcoating and calcining, at least a first portion of the porous ceramic honeycomb article has a first treated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.18, and a first treated mean coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 12×10?7/° C. over a temperature range of 25° C. to 800° C. Methods of forming the porous ceramic honeycomb article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb article includes a primary cordierite phase and an intercrystalline glass phase. In an as-fired condition, the porous ceramic honeycomb article exhibits microcrack parameter Nb3?0.06 and an as-fired E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?0.99. The article exhibits a coated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.14 and a coated E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?1.06 after the porous ceramic honeycomb article has been washcoated and calcined at a temperature of 550° C. After the article is exposed to a thermal treatment at a temperature ?800° C. following washcoating and calcining, at least a first portion of the porous ceramic honeycomb article has a first treated microcrack parameter Nb3?0.18, and a first treated mean coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 12×10?7/° C. over a temperature range of 25° C. to 800° C. Methods of forming the porous ceramic honeycomb article are also disclosed.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite is provided. The organic/inorganic composite materials are sufficiently hard and brittle to be ground to form particles suitable for biological or chemical separation applications. The organic/inorganic composite materials can be magnetic or magnetically susceptible and can have functional reactive groups to allow attachment of biomolecules. Methods of making and using the organic/inorganic composites are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a carbon-based electrode includes forming a mixture of activated carbon particles, carbon black particles, binder, and an optional liquid, fibrillating the binder to form a fibrillated mixture, and forming a carbon mat from the fibrillated mixture, wherein the mixture, during the forming of the mixture, is maintained at a temperature less than 19° C. The low temperature process facilitates dispersive and distributive mixing of the components of the carbon mat.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is greater than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in reduced shrinkage of green ware during the clay dehydroxylation stage of firing.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is less than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in fired ceramic articles with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and improved thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cordierite-forming batch materials and methods of using the same, and in particular batch materials for forming porous cordierite bodies suitable for treating engine emissions. The batch materials include sources of magnesium, alumina, silica, and high BET specific surface area raw kaolin clay. In some embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 22 m2/g. In other embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 13 m2/g, and the source of magnesium oxide and the source of non-kaolin clay source of silica both have relatively coarse particle size.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is less than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in fired ceramic articles with a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and improved thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is greater than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in reduced shrinkage of green ware during the clay dehydroxylation stage of firing.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb article includes a primary cordierite phase and an intercrystalline glass phase. In an as-fired condition, the porous ceramic honeycomb article exhibits microcrack parameter Nb3 ?0.06 and an as-fired E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?0.99. The article exhibits a coated microcrack parameter Nb3 ?0.14 and a coated E500° C./E25° C. ratio ?1.06 after the porous ceramic honeycomb article has been washcoated and calcined at a temperature of 550° C. After the article is exposed to a thermal treatment at a temperature ?800° C. following washcoating and calcining, at least a first portion of the porous ceramic honeycomb article has a first treated microcrack parameter Nb3 ?0.18, and a first treated mean coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 12×10?7/° C. over a temperature range of 25° C. to 800° C. Methods of forming the porous ceramic honeycomb article are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cordierite-forming batch materials and methods of using the same, and in particular batch materials for forming porous cordierite bodies suitable for treating engine emissions. The batch materials include sources of magnesium, alumina, silica, and high BET specific surface area raw kaolin clay. In some embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 22 m2/g. In other embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 13 m2/g, and the source of magnesium oxide and the source of non-kaolin clay source of silica both have relatively coarse particle size.

Abstract: Disclosed are porous ceramic honeycomb articles, such as filters, which are composed predominately of a cordierite composition. The ceramic honeycomb articles possess a porous microstructure characterized by a unique combination of relatively high porosity (>45%), and moderately narrow pore size distribution wherein greater than 15% and less than 38% of the total porosity exhibits a pore diameter less than 10 ?m, and low CTE wherein CTE?6.0×10?7/° C. (from 23° C. to 800° C.). The articles exhibit high thermal durability and high filtration efficiency coupled with low pressure drop. Such ceramic articles are particularly well suited for use in filtration applications, such as in diesel exhaust filters. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the porous ceramic honeycomb article.

Abstract: A thermally shock resistant ceramic body, such as a porous ceramic honeycomb structure for a wall flow diesel engine exhaust filter or a flow-through ceramic catalyst support, is formed of a composite ceramic material comprising a major first ceramic phase exhibiting good thermal shock resistance and a minor second phase material that substantially reduces the elastic modulus of the composite ceramic material at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method of removing graphite from a core region of a cordierite-forming green body and a method of firing a cordierite-forming green body to form a fired cordierite body. A dried cordierite-forming green body containing graphite is first heated so that the core region is at a first temperature in a range from about 950° C. up to about 1100° C. The green body is then either held at the first temperature or heated to a second temperature in a range from about 1050° C. up to about 1160° C.; in either case resulting in removal of a majority of graphite from the core region. The green body may then be heated to a third temperature in a range from about 1300° C. up to about 1350° C. at a second predetermined heating rate to remove any residual graphite from the core region and then heated to a temperature of at least 1390° C. to form the fired cordierite body.

Abstract: Disclosed are porous ceramic honeycomb articles, such as filters, which are composed predominately of a cordierite composition. The ceramic honeycomb articles possess a porous microstructure characterized by a unique combination of relatively high porosity (>45%), and moderately narrow pore size distribution wherein greater than 15% and less than 38% of the total porosity exhibits a pore diameter less than 10 ?m, and low CTE wherein CTE?6.0×10?7/° C. (from 23° C. to 800° C.). The articles exhibit high thermal durability and high filtration efficiency coupled with low pressure drop. Such ceramic articles are particularly well suited for use in filtration applications, such as in diesel exhaust filters. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the porous ceramic honeycomb article.