Abstract: A method of plugging a honeycomb body is disclosed herein, the method comprising: applying a mask layer to a honeycomb body comprising a plurality of channels; forming a plurality of holes in the mask layer such that the plurality of holes are aligned with the plurality of channels; positioning a nozzle defining an opening proximate the mask layer; moving at least one of the nozzle and the honeycomb body relative to one another; and passing a plugging cement through the opening defined by the nozzle against the mask layer such that the plugging cement passes through the plurality of holes in the mask layer and enters the plurality of channels of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic materials and porous ceramic articles, including honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters comprised of plugged honeycomb bodies. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein, such as suitable as a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and/or such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF) suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which are capable of being used to determine filtration efficiency of a filter body even in a clean state. Methods of determining a filtration efficiency of a filter including forcing an inlet flow comprised of a gas (such as air) flow into the inlet end of the filter at a set flow rate, introducing particles such as smoke particles into the inlet flow, and optically counting the number of particles entering and exiting the filter during a sampling event, such as with diffraction based optical particle counters positioned upstream and downstream of the filter. Preferably the gas flow is a soot-free flow stream which does not load the honeycomb filter body with contaminants that need to be removed or burned out. The filter body can thus remain in an essentially clean state even after testing its filtration efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic compositions and porous ceramic articles, such as honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein; in some of these embodiments, the particulate filter is a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and is suitable for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and in some of the embodiments, the particulate filter is a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and is suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: A method for applying a surface treatment to a plugged honeycomb body comprising porous wall includes: atomizing particles of an inorganic material into liquid-particulate-binder droplets comprised of a liquid vehicle, a binder material, and the particles; evaporating substantially all of the liquid vehicle from the droplets to form agglomerates comprised of the particles and the binder material; depositing the agglomerates onto the porous walls of the plugged honeycomb body; wherein the agglomerates are disposed on, or in, or both on and in, the porous walls.

Abstract: A method of plugging a honeycomb body is disclosed herein, the method comprising: applying a mask layer to a honeycomb body comprising a plurality of channels; forming a plurality of holes in the mask layer such that the plurality of holes are aligned with the plurality of channels; positioning a nozzle defining an opening proximate the mask layer; moving at least one of the nozzle and the honeycomb body relative to one another; and passing a plugging cement through the opening defined by the nozzle against the mask layer such that the plugging cement passes through the plurality of holes in the mask layer and enters the plurality of channels of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C. Skin cement composition controls level of cement liquid/colloid components, for example water, colloidal silica, and methylcellulose migration into the substrate during the skin application process to form barrier to skin wetting and staining during the washcoating process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic compositions and porous ceramic articles, such as honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein; in some of these embodiments, the particulate filter is a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and is suitable for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and in some of the embodiments, the particulate filter is a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and is suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic materials and porous ceramic articles, including honeycomb structure bodies and porous ceramic filters comprised of plugged honeycomb bodies. In various embodiments, a particulate filter is disclosed herein, such as suitable as a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) for use with a gasoline engine and treating its exhaust, and/or such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF) suitable for use with a diesel engine and treating its exhaust.

Abstract: A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C. Skin cement composition controls level of cement liquid/colloid components, for example water, colloidal silica, and methylcellulose migration into the substrate during the skin application process to form barrier to skin wetting and staining during the washcoating process.

Abstract: A green ceramic composition and a green ceramic body. The green composition and the body formed therefrom have sufficiently high wet strength to prevent formation of defects due to differential flow. The composition does not include calcined clays and comprises hydrated clays, cordierite precursors such as alumina, talc, and silica, and at least one binder. The binder can be present at a level that ranges from 3 wt % up to 10 wt %. A method of making a cordierite green body is also described.

Abstract: A twin-screw extruder includes a barrel including a pair of chambers in communication with each other and a discharge port, and an extrusion molding die coupled with respect to the discharge port of the barrel. First and second screw sets are rotatably mounted at least partially within respective ones of the pair of chambers. The first and second screw sets each include a raker blade segment at the discharge port of the barrel that includes at least one flight element with a plurality of serrations extending therethrough. Each of the first and second screw sets also include a lobed kneading segment at the discharge port of the barrel that includes at least one flight element. One of the raker blade segment and the lobed kneading segment is located downstream from another of the raker blade segment and lobed kneading segment. A method of using the twin-screw extruder is also provided.