Method and applicator for selective electromagnetic drying of ceramic-forming mixture

A method for drying of a ceramic honeycomb structure having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of axially extending cell channels, with each cell channel having opposite first and second channel ends, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a plug material into at least a subset of the first and second channel ends to form a plurality of plugs that respectively constitute first and second plugged ends adjacent a central unplugged region;
• and
• subjecting the plugged ends to more EM radiation than the central unplugged region so that the EM radiation dissipated by either of the plugged ends is greater than that dissipated by the central unplugged region.

A method for drying of at least one ceramic honeycomb structure having a longitudinal axis and plugged ends that surround a central unplugged region, comprising the steps of:

• providing a drying oven having an interior and a conveying path through the interior, the oven having associated therewith a plurality of adjustable EM radiation sources arranged along the conveying path, the EM sources each being configurable relative to the conveying path and each capable of being removed to prevent the emission of EM radiation;
• and
• while conveying each honeycomb structure along the conveying path, selectively subjecting the honeycomb structure to more EM radiation at the plugged ends than at the central unplugged region so as to cause a greater amount of EM radiation dissipation by either of the plugged ends than by the central unplugged region.