Method of firing a ceramic honeycomb body

A method for firing a green honeycomb body in a kiln, the method comprising:

• heating the green ceramic honeycomb body from a first temperature of about 180° C. to about 220° C. to a second temperature of about 430° C. to about 470° C. at a first heating rate of from about 20° C./hr to about 45° C./hr and at a first oxygen level of from about 5% by volume to about 13% by volume;
• and
• heating the green ceramic honeycomb body from the second temperature to a third temperature of about 580° C. to about 620° C. at a second heating rate of from about 35° C./hr to about 90° C./hr and at a second oxygen level from about 12% by volume to about 20% by volume, wherein
• the second heating rate is greater than the first heating rate,
• the second oxygen level is greater than the first oxygen level,
• oxygen is introduced into the kiln to increase an oxygen level of the kiln from the first oxygen level to the second oxygen level near a peak of organic volatile release from the green honeycomb body, and
• the green ceramic honeycomb body has a diameter from about 8 inches to about 15 inches, and an aspect ratio from about 0.4 to about 1.5.

A method for firing a green body in a kiln, the method comprising:

• heating the green body from T1 (200° C.) to T2 (280° C.) below a first oxygen level O1 until the peak in organic volatile release;
• then heating the green body from T2 (280° C.) to T3 (450° C.) and increasing oxygen from O1 to O2;
• then heating the green body from T3 (450° C.) to T4 (580° C.),
• wherein the heating from T1 (200° C.) to T3 (450° C.) is at a first heating rate and the heating from T3 (450° C.) to T4 (580° C.) is at a second heating rate greater than the first heating rate.