Compositions and methods for plugging honeycomb bodies with reduced plug depth variability

A method for applying a plugging composition to a honeycomb body having a plurality of parallel channels, the method comprising:

• applying to the honeycomb body, a composition comprising:
• a refractory filler having a particle size distribution with a D10 of at least 4 microns and a D90 of at least 55 microns;
• an organic binder;
• an inorganic binder;
• and
• a liquid vehicle;
• wherein the refractory filler, the particle size distribution of the refractory filler, the organic binder, and the inorganic binder are selected such that, when the composition is applied to plug a plurality of channels of the honeycomb body, a plurality of plugs formed therefrom have an average plug depth and a depth range, such that for channels of a given cross-sectional size, the depth range is less than 30% of the average plug depth.

A porous ceramic honeycomb body comprising:

• a plurality of parallel channels bounded by porous ceramic channel walls,
• plugs disposed within the channels and permanently sealed to the channel walls, wherein the plugs comprise:
• a refractory filler having a particle size distribution with a D10 of at least 4 microns and a D90 of at least 55 microns;
• and
• an inorganic binder,
• wherein the refractory filler, the particle size distribution of the refractory filler, and the inorganic binder are selected such that the plugs have an average plug depth and a depth range, such that for channels of a given cross-sectional size, the depth range is less than 30% of the average plug depth.