US 6,325,963 B1 · Method for firing ceramic honeycomb bodies

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of firing a green ceramic honeycomb structural body containing an organic or carbonaceous material which is characterized by removing at least a portion of the carbonaceous material released prior to reacting within the firing atmosphere during the initial firing of the green honeycomb structural body. The invention also relates to a tunnel kiln, which includes a vestibule region, a carbonaceous material release region, having a plurality of removal zones, located downstream of the vestibule region and a sintering region located downstream of the carbonaceous material release region. The tunnel kiln further includes an exhaust removal system which operatively communicates, via offtake openings located in each removal zone, with the release region for removing released carbonaceous material.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method for firing a green ceramic honeycomb, containing carbonaceous material, in a tunnel kiln, the method comprising:

(a) heating to a first temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially release the carbonaceous material from the green ceramic honeycomb;
(b) collecting and trapping the released carbonaceous material;
(c) removing the released carbonaceous material from the atmosphere;
and,
(d) heating to a second temperature and for a time sufficient to produce a fired ceramic honeycomb;
wherein the removal of the released carbonaceous material results in reduced thermally induced deformation and cracking in the fired ceramic honeycomb.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/612,769Filed 10 Jul 2000 · continuation in part

Priority

22 Dec 1997

Granted

4 Dec 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F27B 9/3005
Details, accessories or equipment specially adapted for furnaces of these types: arrangements for circulating gases
C04B 35/195
Rich in aluminium oxide: alkaline earth aluminosilicates, e.g. cordierite or anorthite
F27B 9/40
Details, accessories or equipment specially adapted for furnaces of these types: arrangements of controlling or monitoring devices
F27B 2009/3022
Arrangements for circulating gases transversally: with arrangements to maintain oxidising reducing or neutral zones

Method for firing ceramic honeycomb bodies

Life of this patent

Method for firing ceramic honeycomb bodies

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4