Patent ID: 6562284
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: C04B

Abstract:
A method of producing a cordierite honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting a predetermined radial dimension comprising:producing a green ceramic honeycomb body that exhibits a radial dimension at least 11% greater than the predetermined radial dimension and shrinking the green body during firing to form a sintered honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting the final predetermined radial dimension and a cell density of at least 500 cpsi; the green ceramic body having a batch composition including (i) a magnesium source consisting of a platy or blocky talc exhibiting a mean particle size of less than about 10 &mgr;m; (ii) an Al2O3-forming source having a mean particle size of less than about 5 &mgr;m selected from the group consisting of &agr;-alumina, transition aluminas, aluminum oxide monohydroxide, and aluminum trihydrate, said alumina-forming source including at least one dispersible boehmite or pseudo-boehmite component with a surface area in excess of 100 m2/gm making up at least about 5% by weight of the batch; and (iii) one or more of the components kaolin, calcined kaolin and silica, essentially including a calcined kaolin component exhibiting a mean particle size of up to about 1 &mgr;m and a surface area greater than 10 m2/gm.