Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb body having intersecting walls that form channels extending axially from a first end face to a second end face and plugs to seal the channels at least at one of the first end face and the second end face. The plugs include a first active component, such as a catalytically active component or a chemically active component, of the plug structure, wherein the intersecting walls comprise no first active component and optionally have a second active component of the wall structure or disposed on the walls. Included are methods of making the ceramic honeycomb body having plugs of the first active component and walls with no first active component.

Abstract: A porous ceramic honeycomb body (10) including intersecting walls that form channels (22) extending axially from a first end face to a second end face and layered plugs (62) comprised of a first layer (64) disposed on channel walls and a second layer (66) disposed inward toward an axial center of each respective channel on the first layer. The plugs seal at least one of a first portion of the channels at the first end face and a second portion of channels at the second end face of the porous ceramic honeycomb body.

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: Described here are systems and methods for obtaining measurements of both tissue perfusion and permeability with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system after the administration of a single dose of contrast agent. To this end, the MRI system is directed to acquire T2*-weighted data, during which the acquired signal values are monitored for a trigger event. When the trigger event occurs, the MRI system is directed to switch from acquiring the T2*-weighted data to acquiring T1-weighted data. The systems and methods of the present invention can thus be used for a fully automated, single acquisition of perfusion and permeability measurements using only a single dose of contrast agent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050 K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as lanthanum boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a particulate filter includes plugging at least some of the channels of a green cellular ceramic body on a first end with a green plugging material that includes a liquid vehicle to form a partially plugged green cellular ceramic body, firing the partially plugged green cellular ceramic body to form a partially plugged ceramic article, and plugging at least some of the channels on a second end of the partially plugged ceramic article with a plugging material that sets at a temperature of less than 1000° C.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid drying of ceramic greenwares having a high graphite content are disclosed. The methods include employing microwave drying to bring the dryness of the ceramic greenware to a first select dryness and then employing close-coupled hot-air drying to bring the dryness to the final target dryness. The judicious use of close-coupled hot-air drying reduces end defects due to unevenness in the microwave drying process while also substantially speeding up the drying process. Various configurations for and combinations of microwave drying and close-coupled hot-air drying are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as lanthanum boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: A method for operating an automated functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) system includes controlling, by a control computer, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device to apply one or more pulse sequences to a portion of a brain of a patient and controlling, by the control computer, one or more stimulation devices to provide a stimulation of the patient. The method also includes acquiring, by the control computer, functional images of said portion of said brain of the patient in response to the applying of the one or more pulse sequences and during stimulation and receiving, by the control computer, one or more patient responses during the stimulating of the patient. The method further includes synchronizing, by the control computer, the stimulation of the patient, the acquiring of the functional images and the receiving of the one or more patient responses using at least one synchronization signal.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide, titanium nitride, or titanium boride can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a particulate filter includes plugging at least some of the channels of a green cellular ceramic body on a first end with a green plugging material that includes a liquid vehicle to form a partially plugged green cellular ceramic body, firing the partially plugged green cellular ceramic body to form a partially plugged ceramic article, and plugging at least some of the channels on a second end of the partially plugged ceramic article with a plugging material that sets at a temperature of less than 1000° C.

Abstract: Doped and partially-reduced oxide (e.g., SrTiO3-based) thermoelectric materials. The thermoelectric materials can be single-doped or multi-doped (e.g., co-doped) and display a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.2 or higher at 1050K. Methods of forming the thermoelectric materials involve combining and reacting suitable raw materials and heating them in a graphite environment to at least partially reduce the resulting oxide. Optionally, a reducing agent such as titanium carbide can be incorporated into the starting materials prior to the reducing step in graphite. The reaction product can be sintered to form a dense thermoelectric material.