Process and formulation to join ceramic forms while maintaining structural and physical characteristics across the bond surface

A method for forming a cured ceramic structure comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying a bonding material to at least one bonding surface selected from a first bonding surface of a first substrate piece and a second bonding surface of a second substrate piece,
• wherein the bonding material consists off
• chopped fibers,
• from about 0.05 to about 1.0 wt % of a fluxing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, boron carbide, lithium metaborate, cadmium borate, cadmium borosilicate, bismuth oxide, lithium tetraborate, lead borosilicate, and combinations thereof, and a thickening agent wherein the thickening agent is a starch, a vegetable gum, a sugar, a protein, pectin, gelatin, cellulosic material or a combination thereof;
• (b) joining the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface such that the bonding material is positioned between the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface to form a ceramic structure including an uncured bonding material;
• and
• (c) heating the ceramic structure at a temperature of from about 1,000° C. to about 1,600° C. for a time sufficient to form a ceramic structure including a cured bonding material.