Stiffening of extrudates with RF energy

A method of stiffening a formed body comprising the steps of:

• combining a forming material, water, and a polymeric agent having a thermal gel point to form a plastically deformable mixture;
• passing the mixture through a feed means into a forming member to form a wet formed body;
• and
• gelling the polymeric by passing the wet formed body immediately into an electromagnetic energy field.

A method of stiffening a honeycomb structure comprising the steps of:

• combining a forming material, water, and a polymeric agent having a thermal gel point to form a plastically deformable mixture;
• passing the mixture through an extruder into an extrusion die to form a honeycomb structure, the honeycomb structure being defined by intersecting walls surrounding open, elongated cells extending longitudinally through the honeycomb structure;
• passing the honeycomb structure immediately and directly, into an electromagnetic energy field as it emerges from the extrusion die, the electromagnetic energy field being located adjacent to the exit of the extrusion die;
• and
• gelling the polymeric agent by exposing the honeycomb structure to the electromagnetic energy field for a time sufficient to stiffen and make the structure self-supporting.