Abstract: An improvement in a process of forming ceramic articles comprising oil-based components or extrusion aids, the improvement including removing the oil-based components after drying and prior to firing by flowing a heated gas through the green ceramic honeycomb articles to evaporate and condense the oil-based components, with or without microwave radiation.

Abstract: An improvement in a process of forming ceramic articles comprising oil-based components or extrusion aids, the improvement including removing the oil-based components after drying and prior to firing by flowing a heated gas through the green ceramic honeycomb articles to evaporate and condense the oil-based components, with or without microwave radiation.

Abstract: A process for automatically controlling combustible vapors during debinding and firing of ceramic products which includes establishing a maximum percentage of lower flammability limit (LFL) setpoint no greater than 50%; measuring continuously the percentage of LFL in the kiln atmosphere; and, maintaining the measured percentage of LFL to be less than or equal to the maximum percentage of LFL setpoint by an action selected from the group consisting of increasing gas volume delivered to the kiln, decreasing O2 concentration in the kiln, decreasing heating rate in the firing cycle, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of firing ceramic bodies and includes placing the ceramic material in a heating apparatus and subjecting the ceramic material to an amount of heat energy that results in the ceramic article exhibiting a ceramic body core temperature, Tc, a ceramic body surface temperature Ts, and surface-core temperature differential that is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum temperature differential setpoint.

Abstract: Fine circumferential skin cracking in extruded thin-walled cordierite honeycombs having channel wall thicknesses not exceeding about 0.004 inches (100 &mgr;m) but skin layers of substantially higher thickness is prevented by extruding the honeycombs under conditions that enhance cordierite crystal alignment in the skin; thin-walled honeycomb products having skins free of fine cracks that are well-matched in thermal expansion to the honeycomb cores are provided.

Abstract: Fine circumferential skin cracking in extruded thin-walled cordierite honeycombs having channel wall thicknesses not exceeding about 0.004 inches (100 &mgr;m) but skin layers of substantially higher thickness is prevented by extruding the honeycombs under conditions that enhance cordierite crystal alignment in the skin; thin-walled honeycomb products having skins free of fine cracks that are well-matched in thermal expansion to the honeycomb cores are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a method of firing ceramic bodies and comprises placing the ceramic material in a heating apparatus and subjecting the ceramic material to an amount of heat energy that results in the ceramic article exhibiting a ceramic body core temperature, TC, a ceramic body surface temperature TS, and surface-core temperature differential that is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum temperature differential setpoint.

Abstract: A method of firing a green cordierite-ceramic honeycomb structural body containing a carbonaceous material, for example, an organic binder, comprising a two phase process. The first phase comprises firing the green honeycomb structural body in a firing atmosphere to a temperature and for a time sufficient to initiate and sufficiently achieve release of the carbonaceous material while introducing into the firing atmosphere a fluorine-free low-oxygen gas comprising less than about 20% O2, by volume. Once the carbonaceous material is sufficiently released, the second phase involves conventionally firing the green body for a time and a temperature sufficient to initiate and sufficiently achieve the conversion of the green ceramic honeycomb structural body into a fired honeycomb body.

Abstract: A method of firing a green cordierite-ceramic honeycomb structural body containing a carbonaceous material, for example, an organic binder, comprising a two phase process. The first phase comprises firing the green honeycomb structural body in a firing atmosphere to a temperature and for a time sufficient to initiate and sufficiently achieve release of the carbonaceous material while introducing into the firing atmosphere a fluorine-free low-oxygen gas comprising less than about 20% O.sub.2, by volume. Once the carbonaceous material is sufficiently released, the second phase involves conventionally firing the green body for a time and a temperature sufficient to initiate and sufficiently achieve the conversion of the green ceramic honeycomb structural body into a fired honeycomb body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the improvement of the properties of cordierite sintered structures. The improvement consists essentially of heat treating the calcined kaolin component which when added to the batch of ray materials increases the thermal shock resistance and decreases the coefficient of thermal expansion.