Ceramic honeycomb bodies and manufacture

A method of manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb article comprising cordierite, the method comprising:

• extruding a cordierite-forming mixture through a die to form a green honeycomb article, the mixture comprising a liquid, a binder and a plurality of inorganic components comprising:
• an alumina source comprising alumina trihydrate (Al(OH)3) in an amount of from 5 wt. % to about 35 wt. % with respect to the inorganic components, the alumina source further comprising boehmite (AlOOH), or calcined alumina, or a combinations of boehmite (AlOOH) and calcined alumina;
• and particulate silica having a D90 particle size less than 15 pm and greater than 0.5 pm in an amount of from 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % with respect to the inorganic components, wherein the mixture is free of clay;
• wherein the inorganic components further comprise talc;
• and heating the green honeycomb article to expose the green honeycomb article to temperatures for times sufficient to form a honeycomb article having a cordierite phase.