Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic articles, which in one aspect are composed predominately of a cordierite having a composition close to that of Mg2Al4Si5O18. The ceramic articles possess a microstructure characterized by a unique combination of relatively high porosity and relatively narrow pore size distribution, both as measured by mercury porosimetry, that render the ceramic structure useful for ceramic filter applications requiring high thermal durability and high filtration efficiency coupled with low pressure drop along the length of the filter. Such ceramic bodies are particularly well suited for filtration applications, such as diesel exhaust filters or DPFs. Also disclosed are methods for the manufacture of the ceramic articles described herein.

Abstract: A method for base-coating a porous ceramic catalyst support includes coating the support with a passivation coating via vacuum infiltration, and subsequently exposing the support to a microwave field to dry the coating and form a polymerized film. The method further includes coating the support with a catalyst coating or washcoat, and subsequently exposing the support to a second microwave field, thereby removing water from the catalyst coating or washcoat.

Abstract: A ceramic forming batch mixture including inorganic batch materials, such as sources of alumina, titania, and silica, a pore former combination including first and second pore formers with different compositions; an organic binder; and a solvent. Also disclosed is a method for producing a ceramic article involving mixing the inorganic batch materials with the pore former combination having first and second pore formers of different composition, adding an organic binder and a solvent, forming a green body; and firing the green body. A green body having a combination of first and second pore formers with different compositions is disclosed, as are several methods for firing to produce ceramic articles such as aluminum titanate.

Abstract: Porous ceramic wall flow filter bodies of unitary or segmented construction wherein the honeycomb channels are alternately plugged with plugging cements incorporating low expansion refractory fillers and permanent inorganic bonding agents, the latter imparting improved plug integrity and plug bonding to the porous ceramic honeycomb channel walls.

Abstract: A ceramic body comprising a crystal phase of aluminum titanate in an amount of 50 to 95% by weight, and a glass phase in an amount of 5 to 50% by weight. The inventive ceramic body may include a second crystal phase, for example mullite in an amount of up to 40% by weight. The glass is an aluminosilicate including, in weight percent on an oxide basis, of 50-90 SiO2, 1-25 Al2O3, 0.5-10 TiO2, 0.5-20 R2O, where R is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Ru, Cs, Fr, and 0.5-20 R?O, where R? is selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Ba, Ra, and wherein the ceramic body includes not more than 2% by weight Fe2O3.

Abstract: An aluminum titanate-based ceramic body having a composition a formula comprising a(Al2O3.TiO2)+b(CaO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+c(SrO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+d(BaO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+e(3Al2O3.2SiO2)+f(Al2O3)+g (SiO2)+h(Fe2O3.TiO2)+i(MgO.2TiO2), wherein a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and i are weight fractions of each component such that (a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+i)=1, wherein 0.5<a?0.95; 0?b?0.5; 0?c?0.5; 0?d?0.5; 0<e?0.5; 0?f?0.5; 0?g?0.1; 0?h?0.3; 0?i?0.3; b+d>0.01. A method of forming the ceramic body is provided. The ceramic body is useful in automotive emissions control systems, such as diesel exhaust filtration.

Abstract: Porous ceramic catalyst supports or filters to be provided with catalyst coatings via oxide washcoating processes are pre-coated with polymer barrier layers to prevent washcoat nanoparticle intrusion into the microcracked and/or microporous surfaces of the ceramics, the barrier coatings being formed of hydrocarbon polymers that are soluble or dispersible in polar media, capable of forming neutral or hydrophilic surfaces on porous ceramic supports, and completely vaporizable at moderate washcoat stabilization or catalyst activation temperatures.