Abstract: A method for manufacturing porous ceramic articles comprised of a primary sintered phase ceramic composition. The method includes the steps of providing a plasticized ceramic precursor batch composition including ceramic forming inorganic batch components; a liquid vehicle; an organic binder system; and a pore forming agent comprising at least one peroxide containing compound. An extruded green body is formed from the plasticized ceramic precursor batch composition and subsequently fired under conditions effective to convert the extruded green body into a ceramic article comprising a porous sintered phase composition. Also disclosed are ceramic article produced by the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods for the manufacture of high porosity ceramic exhaust filters employing relatively low amounts of pore formers, the filters combining efficient diesel particulate filtration with effective support for exhaust emissions control catalysts. Cordierite-forming ceramic batches comprising non-hydrated transition alumina powders of relatively large particle size provide high porosities with well-controlled pore sizes and with low filter thermal expansion coefficients and good mechanical strengths.

Abstract: A method of making strong, high surface area alumina catalyst or catalyst supports from transition aluminas by forming a plasticized and homogenized batch which is heated under moisture-retaining conditions at a temperature and for a time at least sufficient to obtain hydroxylation of the transition alumina.

Abstract: Alumina-silica catalyst supports having substantially high surfaces areas are formed by extrusion, drying and firing of a plasticized batch including an alumina-silica powder component, acid, organic binder and water. The alumina-silica powder component can be formed either by the mixing of alumina- and silica-source powders or by forming a slurry therefrom which is spray dried to form a particulate material prior to batching.