Abstract: Honeycomb shapes are extruded from plasticized ceramic powder mixtures by methods that include reducing the core temperature of the charge of the plasticized mixture during transit through the extruder, such methods being carried out utilizing apparatus comprising twin-screw extruders incorporating actively cooled screw elements, whereby temperature-conditioned charges of plasticized material that exhibit reduced core-to-periphery temperature differentials are delivered for extrusion.

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.