Method of bonding inorganic particulate material

An improved method for manufacturing self-bonded elements from particulate ceramic and glass materials comprising

• forming a finely divided compound that includes particles of ceramic materials,
• coating the particles of said finely divided compound with a heat decomposable surface modification monomeric organo compound selected from the group consisting of organo silanes, organo silazanes, titanium chelates, titanium esters, and mixtures thereof,
• combining and mixing the coated particles of finely divided compound with an organic resin binder and solvent for the binder to form a slurry,
• shaping the slurry to form the desired element,
• heating the element to remove the binder, the solvent, and subsequently the coating, during said heating, the coating acting to seal or neutralize the active molecular sites on the particles, which would otherwise react with the organic binder and solvent materials in the slurry to form deliterious carbonaceous material, until at least the major portion of the organic binder and solvent materials are consumed,
• continuing the heating to fuse the particles of finely divided compound.