Apparatus and methods of mechanical testing materials

A method of testing a high porosity ceramic honeycomb body, the method comprising:

• disposing a high porosity ceramic honeycomb body comprising channels defined by a plurality of intersecting porous walls that extend along the axis of the honeycomb body between a first end face and a second end face between facing surfaces of a first platen and a second platen, the first end face disposed toward the first platen and the second end face disposed toward the second platen;
• disposing at least one intermediate platen between at least one of the facing surface of the first platen and the first end face, and the facing surface of the second platen and the second end face, wherein the first platen and the second platen comprise a hardness greater than the at least one intermediate platen;
• applying a force to the high porosity ceramic honeycomb body between the first platen and the second platen via the facing surfaces of first platen and the second platen;
• and
• monitoring a result of applying the force,
• wherein the at least one intermediate platen comprises a surface weight of about 350 g/m2 and a thickness in a direction N between the facing surfaces of the first platen and the second platen of at least about 20 mm.

A mechanical testing apparatus to test the mechanical strength of a honeycomb body having intersecting walls of porous ceramic material extending axially from a first end face to a second end face and an outer axial surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a first platen and a second platen comprising facing surfaces configured to apply a force to the honeycomb body when disposed on the outer axial surface between the facing surfaces of the first platen and the second platen;
• and
• a controller configured to monitor a result when force is applied to the honeycomb body disposed between the first platen and the second platen,
• wherein the first platen comprises a curved surface configured to apply the force over a first area of the outer axial surface of the honeycomb body and the second platen comprises a curved surface configured to apply the force over a second area of the outer axial surface of the honeycomb body disposed opposing the first area,
• wherein the second area is less than one-tenth of the area of the first area.