Abstract: Both a system and method for marking honeycomb structures is provided. The system includes a printing station having a print head moveable relative to a log that prints an identification mark for each structure to be cut from the log; an elevation mechanism that positions the log relative to the printing station, sensors for determining a distance between the print head and log; and a length measuring sensor. A processor is connected to the printing station, elevation mechanism, and length measuring sensor which (a) associates an identification code with the log, (b) generates a separate identification mark for each honeycomb structure to be cut from the log, (c) controls the elevation mechanism to place the log at a desired location relative to the print head of the printing station, and (d) receives length data from the length sensor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide preform includes providing a first process gas atmosphere to a soot preform contained in a vessel. The first atmosphere is held in the vessel for a first reacting time sufficient to at least partially dope or dry the soot preform. The vessel is then at least partially refilled with a second doping or drying atmosphere. The second doping or drying atmosphere is held in the vessel for a second reacting time sufficient to further dope or dry the soot preform.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure comprises providing an aqueous ceramic solution, providing a batch cross-link agent, mixing the agent with the solution, extruding the aqueous ceramic solution containing the cross-link agent into a honeycomb structure, and drying the honeycomb structure via a single drying step thereby forming a hardened, substantially water resistant, honeycomb structure. The method may further comprise addition of a ceramic surfactant to the aqueous ceramic solution, as well as plugging channels within the honeycomb structure with a plugging material comprising an aqueous ceramic solution that includes batch cross-link agents and ceramic surfactants therein.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb filter manufactured from an oxide-based ceramic material having a pore size distribution with d1?7.0 microns. Preferably, the oxide-based material is cordierite or aluminum titanate. Alternatively, the filter contains a cordierite-containing ceramic body with a narrow pore size distribution with db?1.00, wherein db=(d90?d10)/d50. Also disclosed is a batch mixture, method and honeycomb green body made from mixture of inorganic source materials selected from the group of magnesia sources, alumina sources, and silica sources, and a pore former having a narrow particle size distribution with dps?0.90, wherein dps={(dp90?dp10)/dp50}. The pore former is preferably selected from a group consisting of canna starch, sago palm starch, green mung bean starch, and single-mode potato starch.

Abstract: Substantially non-microcracked, porous, cordierite ceramic honeycomb bodies are provided. Although exhibiting moderately high thermal expansion (CTE) between 7×10?7 to 16×10?7/° C. (25-800° C.), the honeycomb bodies exhibit relatively high thermal shock parameter (TSP), such as TSR?525° C. by virtue of a high MOR/E ratio, and/or low Eratio=ERT/E1000° C. and well interconnected porosity, as witnessed by a relatively high pore connectivity factor (PCF). A method of manufacturing the honeycomb ceramic structure is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic honeycomb articles which are composed predominately of a crystalline phase cordierite composition. The porous cordierite ceramic honeycomb articles has a plurality of cell channels and intersecting porous walls and possess a microstructure characterized by a pore size distribution wherein greater than or equal to 75% of the pore size distribution of the porosity of the porous walls, by volume, have a pore diameter (dv) wherein dv<10.0 ?m and less than or equal to 35% of the pore size distribution have dv?4.0 ?m. Additionally, the pore diameter dv90?14.0 ?m, and CTE?12.0×10?7/° C. from 25° C. to 800° C. The articles exhibits high filtration efficiency coupled with low pressure drop across the filter. Additionally, high porosity articles having porosity greater than or equal to 40% and low surface roughness of Ra<4.0 ?m are described.

Abstract: A diesel particulate filter having a honeycomb body composed of cordierite and exhibiting a CTE (25-800° C.) of less than 13×10?7/° C.; a median pore diameter, d50, of less than 25 ?m; % porosity not less than 53%; and a narrow pore size distribution wherein a value of d50?d10)/d50 is not greater than 0.6; and a value of d90 less than 40 ?m wherein d10, and d90 are pore diameters at 10% and 90% of the pore size distribution on a volumetric basis, and d10<d50<d90. The particulate filter preferably exhibits a plugged, wall-flow honeycomb filter body composed of cordierite and having a plurality of parallel end-plugged cell channels traversing the body from a frontal inlet end to an outlet end thereof.

Abstract: Bulk and supported catalysts are prepared from an aqueous slurry containing a catalytically active material and a binder. The slurry is either coated onto a support and dried to form a porous, high surface area phase containing the catalytically active material, or reduced to a paste-like consistency, molded and dried to form a bulk catalyst. The processes and catalysts may be employed in various catalytic chemical processes to achieve high effectiveness factor of the catalytically active material while achieving a lower pressure drop.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aluminum titanate body having a narrow pore size distribution as characterized by the relation (d50?d10)/d50 being less than 0.50 corresponding to a high degree of interconnected porosity. The body also preferably exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 15×10?7 C?1, high porosity of at least 38% by volume, and at least 0.10% by weight metal oxide, the metal being either yttrium, calcium, bismuth, a lanthanide metal or combinations of thereof. MOR is preferably at least 450 psi. Median pore diameter is preferably at least 8 microns. The inventive ceramic body is particularly useful as a wall-flow filter for a diesel exhaust. A method of fabrication is provided where the sintering temperature is preferably between 1375°-1550° C.

Abstract: Thin-walled ceramic honeycomb products of improved resistance to isostatic pressure damage are provided wherein the skin layers disposed over the cellular matrix portions of the honeycombs are formed of ceramic materials differing from the materials of the matrix as to composition, density, or other physical parameters effective to increase the elastic modulus of the skin layer relative to the cellular matrix and thereby reduce pressure-induced tangential strain in regions of the matrix adjacent to the skin layers.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a thin-walled honeycomb ceramic substrate by extruding a plasticized ceramic batch material through a filter screen having wedge shaped filter wires to remove foreign particulate and agglomerated batch material. The filter wires are supported by a set of support wires attached substantially perpendicular to the filter wires. The support wires are may also be advantageously wedge shaped. The filter screen of the present invention may have a wear resistant layer at the surface of the screen, typically a boride or a nitride. The wear resistant coating may also be a nickel-based coating.

Abstract: A honeycomb filter includes an array of interconnecting porous walls which define an array of first channels and second channels. The first channels are bordered on their sides by the second channels and have a larger hydraulic diameter than the second channels. The first channels have a square cross-section, with corners of the first channels having a shape such that the thickness of the porous walls adjoining the corners of the first channels is comparable to the thickness of the porous walls adjoining edges of the first and second channels.

Abstract: Alumina-silica catalyst supports having substantially high surfaces areas are formed by extrusion, drying and firing of a plasticized batch including an alumina-silica powder component, acid, organic binder and water. The alumina-silica powder component can be formed either by the mixing of alumina- and silica-source powders or by forming a slurry therefrom which is spray dried to form a particulate material prior to batching.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a green ceramic article containing organic compounds. The method involves first heating the green ceramic article to sequentially remove the organic compounds such that the organic compound with the lowest weight loss onset temperature is substantially removed prior to the next higher weight loss onset temperature organic compound. The organic compounds include but are not limited to at least an oil or oil-based compound having a flash point or an ignition temperature, higher than the weight loss onset temperature. For this system the temperature during heating is maintained below the flash point of the oil or oil-based compound until substantial removal thereof from the green ceramic structural body. After the organic compounds are substantially removed, the green ceramic article is further fired to a temperature and for a time to obtain a final fired body.

Abstract: A diesel particulate filter comprising a plugged, wall-flow honeycomb filter body composed of cordierite and having a plurality of parallel end-plugged cell channels traversing the body from a frontal inlet end to an outlet end thereof, wherein the filter exhibits a CTE (25–800° C.) of less than 13×10?7/° C., a bulk filter density of less than 0.60 g/cm3, a median pore diameter, d50, of less than 25 micrometers, a porosity and pore size distribution that satisfy the relationship Pm?3.75, wherein Pm is equal to 10.2474{1/[(d50)2(% porosity/100)]}+0.0366183(d90)?0.00040119(d90)2+0.468815(100/% porosity)2+0.0297715(d50)+1.61639(d50?d10)/d50, wherein d10, and d90 are pore diameters at 10% and 90% of the pore size distribution on a volumetric basis, and d10<d50<d90. A method of making the same is also provided.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of forming ceramic articles comprising an oil component or extrusion aid, the improvement including removing a substantial portion of the oil component, prior to firing, by applying a solvent to the green ceramic article to dissolve the oil component.

Abstract: A ceramic filter for trapping and combusting diesel exhaust particulates composed of an end-plugged cordierite honeycomb structure exhibiting a pore size distribution as determined by mercury porosimetry in which the quantity d50/(d50+d90) as related to pore size distribution is less than 0.70, a soot loaded permeability factor Sf, as defined by the equation [d50/(d50+d90)]/[% porosity/100], of less than 1.55, and, a coefficient of thermal expansion (25–800° C.) of no greater than 17×10?7/° C. The ceramic filter further exhibits a median pore diameter, d50, of at least 4 micrometers and up to 40 micrometers. A method of making the filter is provided.

Abstract: A honeycomb substrate includes an inner body having an inner skin and an array of inner webs defining an array of inner cells within the inner skin. The honeycomb substrate further includes an outer body having an outer skin formed concentric with the inner skin and an array of outer webs defining an array of triangle cells between the inner skin and the outer skin. The triangle cells are oriented along a radial direction with respect to a center of the inner body. An extrusion assembly for forming the honeycomb substrate includes an inner cell forming die, an outer cell forming die, and a skin forming mask, all mounted coaxially. An outer skin slot formed between the outer cell forming die and the skin forming mask is in communication with feedholes in the inner cell forming die through an opening in the outer cell forming die.

Abstract: A method for impregnating porous monolith supports with catalytically active materials is disclosed. The impregnation is carried out at a temperature which substantially reduces chemisorption rates such that reactions between the monolith substrate and catalytically active materials in the catalyst solution are minimized. The process can be completed in a practical time that allows for unit selectivity of the weight ratio of catalytically active materials in the substrate to the weight ratio of catalytically active materials in the catalyst solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber having a core of SiO2 doped with fluorine and an alkali metal oxide dopant. The alkali metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Li, Cs and Rb and is provided in amount of at least 20 ppm wt. %. The fiber has an inner cladding surrounding the core, which also includes fluorine. A relative refractive index of the inner cladding (?2%), measured relative to pure silica, is preferably between ?0.39% and ?0.7%. The fiber preferably exhibits attenuation at 1550 nm of less than or equal to 0.178 dB/km.