Batch compositions containing pre-reacted inorganic spheroidal particles, small amount of fine inorganic particles (“fines”), and an extremely large amount of liquid vehicle. The batch compositions contain pre-reacted inorganic particles having a particle size distribution with 20 μm≤D50≤100 μm, D90≤100 μm, and D5≥10 μm; less than 20 wt % of fine inorganic particles (fines) whose particle distribution(s) have a median diameter of less than 5 μm; and a liquid vehicle in a weight percent (LV %≥28%) by super-addition to all inorganic particles in the batch composition. Fast extruding batch compositions having extremely high Tau Y/Beta ratios are provided. Green bodies, such as green honeycomb bodies and methods of manufacturing green honeycomb bodies are provided, as are other aspects.

A cordierite-containing ceramic body with % P≥50%, df≤0.50, and a combined weight percentage of crystalline phases containing cordierite and indialite of at least 85 wt %. The porous ceramic body contains, as expressed on a relative oxide weight percent basis in terms of MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2 that is within a field defined by (15.4, 34.1, and 50.5), (12.2, 34.1, and 53.7), (13.3, 31.2, and 55.5), and (16.6, 31.1, and 52.3). Batch composition mixtures and methods of manufacturing a porous ceramic body using the batch compositions are provided, as are other aspects.

A cordierite-containing ceramic body with % P≥50%, df≤0.50, and a combined weight percentage of crystalline phases containing cordierite and indialite of at least 85 wt %. The porous ceramic body contains, as expressed on a relative oxide weight percent basis in terms of MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2 that is within a field defined by (15.4, 34.1, and 50.5), (12.2, 34.1, and 53.7), (13.3, 31.2, and 55.5), and (16.6, 31.1, and 52.3). Batch composition mixtures and methods of manufacturing a porous ceramic body using the batch compositions are provided, as are other aspects.

[Object] To provide a porous piezoelectric material molded body highly useful as a constituent material of a piezoelectric transducer suitable, in particular, for a probe of medical ultrasound diagnosis equipment. [Solution] A porous piezoelectric material molded body, in which 1000 or more spherical pores with an average pore diameter in the range of 2 to 70 μm are dispersedly formed per volume of 1 mm3, is characterized in that there is substantially no pore with a pore diameter larger than 50 μm, and 80% by volume or more of the total pores that constitute a spherical pore group have a pore diameter within ±20% of the average pore diameter.

[Object] To provide a porous piezoelectric material molded body highly useful as a constituent material of a piezoelectric transducer suitable, in particular, for a probe of medical ultrasound diagnosis equipment. [Solution] A porous piezoelectric material molded body, in which 1000 or more spherical pores with an average pore diameter in the range of 2 to 70 μm are dispersedly formed per volume of 1 mm3, is characterized in that there is substantially no pore with a pore diameter larger than 50 μm, and 80% by volume or more of the total pores that constitute a spherical pore group have a pore diameter within ±20% of the average pore diameter.

A low melting-point porous ceramic material, a sintering temperature of the low melting-point porous ceramic material is 680-830° C., a porosity of the low melting-point porous ceramic material is 24-42%, raw materials of the low melting-point porous ceramic material comprise a binder (i.e., a temporary binder) and powder of raw materials.

A silicon carbide ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of axially penetrating flow paths partitioned by porous silicon carbide cell walls, the cell walls comprising silicon carbide particles as aggregate and binder layers for binding the silicon carbide particles, the binder layers having at least a cordierite phase and a spinel phase, and the molar ratio M1 of the cordierite phase [=cordierite phase/(cordierite phase+spinel phase)] being 0.4-0.9.

Dry prepregs for ceramic matrix composites are described. The dry prepregs comprise a tow or fabric of ceramic fibers infiltrated with preceramic matrix comprising low levels of an aqueous solvent. The preceramic matrix contains an inorganic portion and a binder system. Binder systems comprising a binder and a plasticizer for the binder are described.

Dry prepregs for ceramic matrix composites are described. The dry prepregs comprise a tow or fabric of ceramic fibers infiltrated with preceramic matrix comprising low levels of an aqueous solvent. The preceramic matrix contains an inorganic portion and a binder system. Binder systems comprising a binder and a plasticizer for the binder are described.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.