A batch composition containing pre-reacted inorganic spheroidal particles and pore-former spheroidal particles. The pre-reacted inorganic spheroidal particles have a particle size distribution wherein 10 μm≤DI.sub.50≤50 μm, and DIb≤2.0, and the pore-former spheroidal particles have a particle size distribution wherein 0.40 DI.sub.50≤DP.sub.50≤0.90 DI.sub.50, and DPb≤1.32, wherein DI.sub.50 is a median particle diameter of the distribution of pre-reacted inorganic spheroidal particles, DP.sub.50 is a median particle diameter of the pore-former particle size distribution, DIb is a breadth factor of the pre-reacted particle size distribution of the pre-reacted inorganic spheroidal particles, and DPb is a breadth factor of the pore-former particle size distribution. Also, green honeycomb bodies manufactured from the batch compositions, and methods of manufacturing a honeycomb body using the batch compositions, are provided.

A cement mixture for applying to a honeycomb body that includes: (i) inorganic ceramic particles; (ii) an inorganic binder; (iii) an organic binder comprising one or more of a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophilic additive; and (iv) an aqueous liquid vehicle. The cement mixture exhibits a cement viscosity of less than 7000 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate of less than 0.1/sec and greater than 25 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate from 20/sec to 100/sec.

A cement mixture for applying to a honeycomb body that includes: (i) inorganic ceramic particles; (ii) an inorganic binder; (iii) an organic binder comprising one or more of a hydrophilic polymer and a hydrophilic additive; and (iv) an aqueous liquid vehicle. The cement mixture exhibits a cement viscosity of less than 7000 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate of less than 0.1/sec and greater than 25 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate from 20/sec to 100/sec.

Method of identifying a valid flow path includes: performing fluid analysis of a porous body, which is ought to have inflow surface and outflow surface, based on structure data representing a 3-dimentional structure of the porous body to generate data indicating at least a pressure distribution of a fluid in a flow path in the porous body; and identifying a valid flow path that allows the fluid to flow from the inflow surface to the outflow surface based on a gradient of pressure values along a flow direction of the fluid in the flow path.

Method of identifying a valid flow path includes: performing fluid analysis of a porous body, which is ought to have inflow surface and outflow surface, based on structure data representing a 3-dimentional structure of the porous body to generate data indicating at least a pressure distribution of a fluid in a flow path in the porous body; and identifying a valid flow path that allows the fluid to flow from the inflow surface to the outflow surface based on a gradient of pressure values along a flow direction of the fluid in the flow path.

This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a method of fabricating a three-dimensional object using a support edifice and also using a mold material with structural additives. The support edifice is fabricated in the same crafting material as the final three-dimensional object in the same manner as the printing of the final three-dimensional object (mold and crafting in a layer by layer manner). This method enables the support edifice to also transform during post processing in the same manner as the final three-dimensional object, thus supporting the object until finished. The system for fabricating the object comprises a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The printhead can also include a heating system or a drying apparatus. The three-dimensional imaging process for making objects, preferably metal objects or ceramic objects, on a layer-by-layer basis under the control of a data processing system is disclosed. The printing of the three-dimensional object such as heavy objects or an object having different parts having a very thin gap or space. It is important to use different processing steps and/or material to print such three-dimensional objects. The present invention provides a solution by printing a support edifice comprising a special structural additive for the mold, and further the support edifice can be printed simultaneously while printing the mold and crafting-paste material on a layer-by-layer basis. The mold material is mixed with the structural additive. The structural additive is useful for prohibiting either fusing of the object with the support edifice, or in alternative embodiments, the fusing of one part of an object with another part of an object.

A scraping device for undried joining material protruding from a segment joint body in which side surfaces of a plurality of pillar-shaped honeycomb structure segments are joined via the undried joining material, the segment joint body having an outer peripheral side surface, a first honeycomb-shaped end surface, and a second honeycomb-shaped end surface located on an opposite side of the first honeycomb-shaped end surface, the scraping device includes a stand for placing the segment joint body; a controller; and a scraping robot comprising at least one scraping spatula configured to be movable in at least one scraping direction along at least one surface of the outer peripheral side surface, the first honeycomb-shaped end surface, and the second honeycomb-shaped end surface while being pressed against the at least one surface.

A scraping device for undried joining material protruding from a segment joint body in which side surfaces of a plurality of pillar-shaped honeycomb structure segments are joined via the undried joining material, the segment joint body having an outer peripheral side surface, a first honeycomb-shaped end surface, and a second honeycomb-shaped end surface located on an opposite side of the first honeycomb-shaped end surface, the scraping device includes a stand for placing the segment joint body; a controller; and a scraping robot comprising at least one scraping spatula configured to be movable in at least one scraping direction along at least one surface of the outer peripheral side surface, the first honeycomb-shaped end surface, and the second honeycomb-shaped end surface while being pressed against the at least one surface.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body, the non-fired honeycomb formed body including a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, 0.5 to 5.0 mass % of pore former and water; an induction drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body by induction drying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The induction drying step is to remove 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying by induction drying to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body, then turn the first dried honeycomb formed body upside down and remove the residual water by further induction drying to obtain the honeycomb dried body.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body, the non-fired honeycomb formed body including a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, 0.5 to 5.0 mass % of pore former and water; an induction drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body by induction drying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The induction drying step is to remove 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying by induction drying to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body, then turn the first dried honeycomb formed body upside down and remove the residual water by further induction drying to obtain the honeycomb dried body.