Abstract: The ceramic honeycomb structure according to the present invention includes a cell group having a plurality of cells which are divided each other by porous partition walls and functioning as a fluid channel, and porous outer wall surrounding and holding outermost peripheral cells located at a circumference of the cell group. In the partition walls, a part located at least one opening end of the cells of the cell group constitutes a reinforced partition wall part having higher strength than the other part of the partition walls (normal partition wall part) as well as having a variation of porosity per unit volume within ±2%. Uniform and excellent erosion resistance is achieved throughout the reinforced partition wall part.

Abstract: The ceramics honeycomb structure of the present invention is formed of a plurality of cells forming a fluid flow passage partitioned by porous partition walls, and comprising an inflow end part allowing fluid to flow therein, an outflow end part allowing fluid to flow therefrom, and an outer peripheral part including an outer peripheral surface, and is characterized by having a structure where a porosity per unit volume (cm3) gradually increases from the inflow end part side to the outflow end part side at a rate of 0.2%/mm or less, and this ceramics honeycomb structure has an excellent erosion resistance of partition walls positioned at a cell opening end part and a high compressive strength (isostatic strength) at the time of canning, and is suitable particularly as an automobile exhaust gas purification catalyst carrier.

Abstract: The ceramics honeycomb structure of the present invention is formed of a plurality of cells forming a fluid flow passage partitioned by porous partition walls, and comprising an inflow end part allowing fluid to flow therein, an outflow end part allowing fluid to flow therefrom, and an outer peripheral part including an outer peripheral surface, and is characterized by having a structure where a porosity per unit volume (cm3) gradually increases from the inflow end part side to the outflow end part side at a rate of 0.2%/mm or less, and this ceramics honeycomb structure has an excellent erosion resistance of partition walls positioned at a cell opening end part and a high compressive strength (isostatic strength) at the time of canning, and is suitable particularly as an automobile exhaust gas purification catalyst carrier.

Abstract: The ceramic honeycomb structure according to the present invention includes a cell group having a plurality of cells which are divided each other by porous partition walls and functioning as a fluid channel, and porous outer wall surrounding and holding outermost peripheral cells located at a circumference of the cell group. In the partition walls, a part located at least one opening end of the cells of the cell group constitutes a reinforced partition wall part having higher strength than the other part of the partition walls (normal partition wall part) as well as having a variation of porosity per unit volume within ±2%. Uniform and excellent erosion resistance is achieved throughout the reinforced partition wall part.

Abstract: A method for debindering of powder molded body, including dipping, in an extracting solution an aqueous surfactant solution, a ceramic powder or metal powder molded body containing a binder with at least two kinds of binder components, to selectively extract and remove at least one kind of binder component from the molded body, and then removing the binder components remaining in the molded body after extraction. This debindering method permits rapid debindering while preventing the generation of defects such as cracks and the like, is highly safe to human health and environment, and requires a low facility cost.

Abstract: A honeycomb formed body is obtained by subjecting a mixture of a raw material powder and a forming binder to extrusion, wherein the forming binder is a mixture of a wax and a thermoplastic resin and the mixing ratio of the thermoplastic resin in the forming binder is 5 to 50% by weight. A honeycomb formed body having a partition wall as thin as 25 to 100 &mgr;m can be mass-produced efficiently without generating cracks or deforming the die of extruder.

Abstract: There is provided a method for debindering of powder molded body, which comprises dipping, in an extracting solution composed of an aqueous surfactant solution, a ceramic powder or metal powder molded body containing a binder comprising at least two kinds of binder components, to selectively extract and remove at least one kind of binder component from the molded body, and then removing the binder components remaining in the molded body after extraction. This debindering method enables a short time and rapid debindering treatment while preventing the generation of defects such as cracks and the like, has high safety to human health and environment, and requires a low facility cost.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a metal/ceramic composite, comprising the steps of adding starch to a ceramic slurry; casting the slurry into a water-nonabsorptive mold; heating the slurry to harden it to obtain a hardened body; demolding the hardened body out of the mold; and drying the hardened body to obtain a molded body; and then impregnating pores of the molded body or pores of a porous ceramic body produced by firing the molded body with a metal. The method can produce a metal/ceramic composite having a narrow metal distribution at a low cost, while freely controlling metal content as designed for complex shapes, or products with varying thickness or highly thick products, to say nothing of simple shapes.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering, refining, and storing hydrogen gas, includes: a recovery and refinement line for recovering and refining hydrogen gas used for a hydrogen furnace or used as a process gas; a storage tank for storing refined gas; and a resupply line for resupplying a stored gas to the hydrogen furnace or as a process gas. A palladium film is installed in the recovery and refinement line and lets hydrogen gas permeate the palladium film so as to be refined.

Abstract: A gas separator includes a porous substrate having fine pores opened on its surface and a metal for separating a gas, the porous substrate having fine pores having an average diameter of 0.1-3.0 .mu.m and a porosity of 25-45%, and the metal for separating a gas being filled into the pores in the porous substrate to close them. A gas separation film seldom exfoliates from the porous substrate, and the gas separator is excellent in durability in comparison with a conventional gas separator.

Abstract: A gas separator includes a porous substrate having fine pores opened on its surface and a metal for separating a gas, the porous substrate having fine pores having an average diameter of 0.4-0.9 .mu.m, and the metal for separating a gas being filled into the pores in the porous substrate to close them. A gas separation film seldom exfoliate from the porous substrate, and the gas separator is excellent in durability in comparison with a conventional gas separator.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell which includes a solid electrolyte body and a plurality of electrodes formed on the solid electrolyte body, for determining the concentration of a component contained in a measurement gas. The electrodes include at least one porous electrode exposed to the measurement gas. The method includes a step of preparing an unfired electrode material for the porous electrode or electrodes, which includes an inorganic compound which produces a gas at an elevated temperature, and an electrically conductive material. The unfired electrode material is applied to the solid electrolyte body to form an unfired electrode layer or layers corresponding to the porous electrode or electrodes. The formed unfired electrode layer or layers is/are heated to a temperature higher than the above-indicated elevated temperature, to form the porous electrode or electrodes.