Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting a predetermined radial dimension comprising producing a green ceramic honeycomb body that exhibits a radial dimension at least 9% greater than the predetermined radial dimension and a cell density of at least 500 cpsi. The method further involves shrinking the green body during firing to form a sintered honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting the final predetermined radial dimension. This invention also relates to a method of producing a ceramic body comprising the following steps: (a) compounding and plasticizing a ceramic raw material mixture and forming the plasticizable raw material mixture into a green ceramic body by extrusion through an extrusion die; (b) drying the green body and thereafter firing the green body at a time and at a temperature sufficient to sinter the ceramic body resulting in a radial shrinkage of the green ceramic body in the radial dimension due to the firing of at least 9%.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting a predetermined radial dimension comprising producing a green ceramic honeycomb body that exhibits a radial dimension at least 9% greater than the predetermined radial dimension and a cell density of at least 500 cpsi. The method further involves shrinking the green body during firing to form a sintered honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting the final predetermined radial dimension.

Abstract: Powder mixtures and a method of forming and shaping the mixtures. The method involves compounding the components of powder materials, binder, solvent for the binder, surfactant, and non-solvent with respect to at least the binder, the solvent, and the powder materials. The non-solvent is lower in viscosity than the binder combined with the solvent. The solvent is present in an amount that is less than the amount that would be present otherwise. The components are mixed and plasticized, and shaped to form a green body. The choice of components results in improved wet green strength in the green body. The method is especially useful for extrusion processing of aqueous binder systems such as water and cellulose ethers and hydrophobic non-solvents, to form structures such as honeycombs. In the body, the ratio, upon subsequent firing, of the isostatic strength to the A-axis strength is at least about 20% higher than in bodies made without the mixture composition of the invention.

Abstract: A method for forming and shaping powder mixtures involves compounding, homogenizing, and plasticizing components to form a mixture. The components are powder materials, binder, solvent for the binder, surfactant, and non-solvent with respect to at least the binder, the solvent, and the powder materials. The non-solvent is lower in viscosity than the binder combined with the solvent. The components are chosen to result in improved wet green strength in the subsequently formed green body. The compounding is done by the steps of dry-mixing the powder material, surfactant and binder to form a uniform blend, adding the solvent to the resulting dry blend, and thereafter adding the non-solvent to the blend. The mixture is shaped by passing it through a low to moderate shear extruder, and then through a die to form a green body. The compounding and shaping steps are carried out at a temperature of no greater than ambient temperature. The method is especially suitable for RAM extrusion.

Abstract: Powder mixtures and a method of forming and shaping the mixtures. The method involves compounding the components of powder materials, binder, solvent for the binder, surfactant, and non-solvent with respect to at least the binder, the solvent, and the powder materials. The non-solvent is lower in viscosity than the binder combined with the solvent. The solvent is present in an amount that is less than the amount that would be present otherwise. The components are mixed and plasticized, and shaped to form a green body. The choice of components results in improved wet green strength in the green body. The method is especially useful for extrusion processing of aqueous binder systems such as water and cellulose ethers and hydrophobic non-solvents, to form structures such as honeycombs. In the body, the ratio, upon subsequent firing, of the isostatic strength to the A-axis strength is at least about 20% higher than in bodies made without the mixture composition of the invention.