Abstract: A fired body and method of making involves compounding powder, binder, aqueous solvent for the binder, surfactant, and non-solvent with respect to at least the binder, the solvent, and the powder, with the addition of an organosilicon compound. The non-solvent is lower in viscosity than the binder combined with the solvent, and the amount of solvent is less than the amount that would be used absent the non-solvent. The components are mixed and plasticized and then shaped into a green body, which is then fired to produce the product body. The organosilicon compound enhances the stiffness in the green body afforded by other non-solvents, and results in increased strength and reduced cracking in the fired body, among other advantages.

Abstract: A binder system for use in the formation of ceramic or other powder-formed greenware which includes a binder, a solvent for the binder, a surfactant, and a component that is non-solvent with respect to the binder and solvent. The non-solvent component exhibits a lower viscosity than the solvent when containing the binder and includes at least a portion of an organic liquid having a 90% recovered distillation temperature of no greater than about 225.degree. C. and more preferably less than 220.degree. C. Also disclosed is a process of forming and shaping plasticized powder mixtures and a process for forming ceramic articles utilizing the binder system.

Abstract: Low expansion, low porosity cordierite bodies having a CTE at 25-800.degree. C. of <4.times.10-7C-1 and total porosity of <20%, or CTE of >4.times.10-7C-1 but <9.times.10-7C-1 and total porosity of <12%, or a CTE of >9.times.10-7C-1 but <15.times.10-7C-1 and total porosity of <10%. They are produced by selecting cordierite-forming raw materials in specific combinations of talc, spinel, kaolin, calcined kaolin, Al203-forming material, MgO-forming materials, and silica, in various particle size combinations. The raw materials are intimately blended with an effective amount of vehicle and forming aids and plastically shaped into a green body that is dried and fired at a temperature of about 1370.degree. C. to 1435.degree. C. Firing schedules vary according the raw material combination.

Abstract: A body is disclosed which is at least about 90% by weight cordierite, has a mean pore size of less than about 10.0 microns, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of no greater than about 9.0.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. from about 25.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating the body. Raw materials are selected to form a composition consisting essentially of in percent by weight about 12 to 16 magnesium oxide, about 35 to 41 aluminum oxide, and about 43 to 53 silica. The raw materials are absent of clay and talc. The magnesium oxide is supplied by a magnesium oxide component having an average particle size of no greater than about 15.0 micrometers in diameter. The aluminum oxide is supplied by an aluminum oxide component having an average particle size of no greater than about 8.0 micrometers in diameter. The composition is capable of forming cordierite in the subsequent firing step.

Abstract: A body is disclosed which is at least about 90% by weight cordierite, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than about 16.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. from about 25.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating the body. Raw materials are selected to form a nominal composition consisting essentially of in percent by weight about 11.5 to about 16.5 MgO, about 33.0 to about 41.0 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and about 46.5 to about 53 SiO.sub.2. The raw materials can be a combination of silica and magnesium aluminate spinel, a combination of silica, magnesium aluminate spinel, and a MgO yielding component, or a combination of silica, magnesium aluminate spinel, and a Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 yielding components. The raw materials are provided absent of clay and talc. The raw materials are blended with an effective amount of vehicle and forming aids to impart plastic formability and green strength thereto form a plastic mixture.