An apparatus and method of manufacturing a porous ceramic segmented honeycomb body (340,340) comprising axial channels (216) extending from a first end face (220) to a second end face (224). A plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) is moved axially past respective apertures (110) of an adhesive applying device (100). Adhesive (118) is applied through openings (126) in the adhesive applying device (100) onto peripheral axial surfaces of each porous ceramic honeycomb segment (204). The plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) enters a wide opening (318) of a tapered chamber (314) and exits a narrow opening (322) of the tapered chamber (314); a tapered wall (326) from the wide opening (318) to the narrow opening (322) presses the plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) together forming the porous ceramic segmented honeycomb body (340,340). The adhesive (118) on the peripheral axial surfaces between respective porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) is distributed by the pressing.

A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.

A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

An extrudable cement-based material formed from a mixture that includes cement, water, gypsum, secondary materials, reinforcement fibers and rheology modifying agent. The extrudable cement-based material is a lightweight material that has a density in the range of about 1.4 to 2.4 g/cm.sup.3, a compressive strength in the range of about 5 to 100 MPa, and a flexural strength in the range of about 5 to 35 MPa. Note that the cement may contain gypsum such that the gypsum is not added to the mixture.

An extrudable cement-based material formed from a mixture that includes cement, water, gypsum, secondary materials, reinforcement fibers and rheology modifying agent. The extrudable cement-based material is a lightweight material that has a density in the range of about 1.4 to 2.4 g/cm.sup.3, a compressive strength in the range of about 5 to 100 MPa, and a flexural strength in the range of about 5 to 35 MPa. Note that the cement may contain gypsum such that the gypsum is not added to the mixture.

A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric material is provided. According to the method, a first shaped body is formed from a thermoelectric powder, of which a crystal has a layer structure. An extruded body is formed by extruding the first shaped body. A plurality of cut-off pieces are formed by cutting the extruded body along a cross-section perpendicular to an extrusion direction. A second shaped body is formed by stacking and pressing the cut-off pieces along a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction. According to the above, a thermoelectric ability of a thermoelectric material and an efficiency for manufacturing a thermoelectric module may be improved.

A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.

A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.