Production method of thin wall cordierite honeycomb structure

Abstract

A production method of a honeycomb structure is provided. The production method of a thin wall cordierite honeycomb structure having cordierite as the main component of the crystalline phase includes: adding a forming auxiliary agent to a cordierite material to obtain a mixture, kneading the mixture to obtain a material batch, forming the material batch by extrusion to form a honycomb compact, drying the honeycomb compact to obtain a dried body, and firing the dried body. The cordierite material batch contains 65% by weight or more flat plate-like cordierite raw material including crystal water made from talc, kaolin and aluminum hydroxide with the BET specific surface areas for the cordierite raw materials being 7 to 18 m.sup.2 /g of talc, 14 to 22 m.sup.2 /g of kaolin and 6 to 18 m.sup.2 /g of aluminum hydroxide. The method can realize a thinner wall and a higher cell density and can improve the formability (in particular, the lubricity and the shape stability) at the time of extruding, the mechanical strength (hydrostatic pressure fracture strength), and the catalyst carrying characteristics.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.