Abstract:
An apparatus and method for stiffening an wet extruded ceramic body for improved handling prior to drying and firing. The ceramic body is formed from a plastically deformable material including inorganic raw materials, and organics, such as a binder having a thermal gel point. As the ceramic body log exits the extruder die it is passed through a microwave energy field to be heated to above the gelling point of the organic binder. The ceramic body then stiffens and can be easily handled without deformation.
Abstract:
Systems for and methods of drying a wet skin (18) of a wet skinned ceramic ware (10) are disclosed. The wet skinned ceramic ware (10) includes a dry interior web (26) with an outer surface (16). The wet skin (18) is disposed on the outer surface (16) of the dry interior web (26). The method includes generating an airstream (212) and then directing the airstream (212) through a first end of the wet-skinned ceramic ware only through an annular portion (26A) of the interior web (26) that is adjacent the outer surface (16) of the interior web (26). The flow of the airstream (212) through the annular portion (26A) of the interior web (26) causes moisture in the wet skin (18) to migrate inwardly toward the interior web (26). The moisture is removed from the annular portion (26A) of the interior web (26) when the airstream (212) exits a second end of the ceramic ware, thereby drying the skin (18) from the inside out of the wet-skinned ceramic ware (10).
Abstract:
A method for drying a ceramic article (10.) comprises providing microwave radiation from a microwave generating source (30), providing a ceramic honeycomb structure (10) having a middle portion (17) and at least one end (13,16), and exposing the ceramic honeycomb structure to the microwave radiation while shielding the at least one end from directly. receiving the microwave radiation, such that the radiation absorbed by the middle portion is equal to or greater than the radiation absorbed by the at least one end, and the proper drying of the entire honeycomb structure without heat-induced structural degradation is thus ensured.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising a honeycomb body and a multilayered outer layer formed of a thick core layer applied and rapidly dried and a thin clad layer dried more gently to form a crack free dual skin layer. The core layer may have properties that are closer to those of the ceramic honeycomb body in service than the clad layer that may provide a tough outer shell to withstand handling and assembly.
Abstract:
A microwave applicator assembly (100) includes a microwave applicator (102) that excites TE modes and provides a generally circular heating pattern in a lossy dielectric material. The microwave applicator has a processing chamber bounded by a circumferential wall (110) in which a plurality of indents (102) are formed. The microwave applicator assembly (100) may further include a feed waveguide (120) coupled to the microwave applicator (102) for inputting microwaves into the processing chamber. The microwave applicator assembly (100) may further include one or more choking sections in communication with the processing chamber (104) to enhance heating efficiency and reduce microwave leakage.
Abstract:
Un método y sistema para secar el revestimiento sin grietas y de alta resistencia que incluye un aglutinante inorgánico de un tamaño de partículas promedio (D50) en una escala de 10 nm y 700 nm en un cuerpo cerámica porosa; el método incluye soportar el cuerpo de panal sobre una cara de extremo de tal manera que los canales axiales y la periferia exterior son sustancialmente verticales; un gas se hace fluir más allá del cuerpo de panal sustancialmente paralelo a la dirección del canal axial, sustancialmente igual alrededor a la periferia exterior del revestimiento, para secar uniformemente el revestimiento para formar un revestimiento parcialmente seco bajo condiciones moderadas; después, el revestimiento parcialmente seco puede secarse más severamente teniendo en el revestimiento sin grietas y de alta resistencia rápidamente seco.