A method for producing a conductive honeycomb structure includes: a forming step of extruding a forming raw material to obtain a honeycomb formed body; a drying step of drying the honeycomb formed body to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb fired body. The forming step includes controlling a volume fraction of a portion that can form pores of the honeycomb formed body so that an absolute value of a difference in the volume fraction of the portion that can form the pores in predetermined regions of the honeycomb formed body relative to a previously set, predetermined porosity of the honeycomb fired body is within 0.5%. The predetermined porosity is a porosity preset for each of the predetermined regions of the honeycomb fired body.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450° C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450° C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

The invention relates to a porous monolith comprising between 20 wt.-% and 70 wt.-% TiO 2 relative to the total weight of the monolith, and between 30 wt.-% and 80 wt.-% a refractory oxide, selected from silica, alumina or silica-alumina, relative to the total weight of the monolith, characterized in that said porous monolith has a bulk density of less than 0.19 g/mL.

The method includes the steps of: a) selecting particles with particular slenderness ratios and diameters from SiC powder to serve as selected SiC material powder; b) coating a PVA coating on particles of the selected SiC material powder so that the PVA coating and the selected SiC material powder are combined into a particulate ceramic material; c) pressing the particulate ceramic material into a ceramic base body; d) sintering the ceramic base body to form a fixed shape and forming completely continuous channels from an inside to a surface thereof by cooling; and e) infiltrating the ceramic base body with molten aluminum. The ceramic composite material made by the method includes a ceramic base body having completely continuous channels from an inside to a surface thereof; an aluminum filler filled in the channels; and an aluminum coating disposed on the ceramic base body and integratedly connecting with the aluminum filler.

The method includes the steps of: a) selecting particles with particular slenderness ratios and diameters from SiC powder to serve as selected SiC material powder; b) coating a PVA coating on particles of the selected SiC material powder so that the PVA coating and the selected SiC material powder are combined into a particulate ceramic material; c) pressing the particulate ceramic material into a ceramic base body; d) sintering the ceramic base body to form a fixed shape and forming completely continuous channels from an inside to a surface thereof by cooling; and e) infiltrating the ceramic base body with molten aluminum. The ceramic composite material made by the method includes a ceramic base body having completely continuous channels from an inside to a surface thereof; an aluminum filler filled in the channels; and an aluminum coating disposed on the ceramic base body and integratedly connecting with the aluminum filler.

Plurality of granules comprising a ceramic core having an outer surface and a shell on and surrounding the core, wherein the core comprises first ceramic particles bound together with a first inorganic binder, wherein the first inorganic binder comprises reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the shell comprises at least a first concentric layer, wherein the first layer comprises a second inorganic binder and optionally second ceramic particles, wherein if present the second ceramic particles are bound together with the second inorganic binder, wherein the second inorganic binder comprises reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein for a given granule, the first ceramic particles are present in a first weight percent with respect to the total weight of the core and the second ceramic particles, if present in the first layer of the same granule are in a second weight percent with respect to the total weight of the first layer, wherein for a given granule, the first weight percent is greater than the second weight percent, and wherein the granules have a minimum Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

The invention relates to a porous monolith comprising between 20 wt.-% and 70 wt.-% Ti0 2 relative to the total weight of the monolith, and between 30 wt.-% and 80 wt.-% a refractory oxide, selected from silica, alumina or silica-alumina, relative to the total weight of the monolith, characterized in that said porous monolith has a bulk density of less than 0.19 g/mL.

Process for preparing a porous monolith comprising between 10% and 100% by weight of a semiconductor relative to the total weight of the porous monolith, which process comprises the following steps: a) a first aqueous suspension containing polymer particles is prepared; b) a second aqueous suspension containing particles of least one inorganic semiconductor is prepared; c) the two aqueous suspensions prepared in steps a) and b) are mixed in order to obtain a paste; d) a heat treatment of the paste obtained in step c) is carried out in order to obtain the monolith with multimodal porosity.

Process for preparing a porous monolith comprising between 10% and 100% by weight of a semiconductor relative to the total weight of the porous monolith, which process comprises the following steps: a) a first aqueous suspension containing polymer particles is prepared; b) a second aqueous suspension containing particles of least one inorganic semiconductor is prepared; c) the two aqueous suspensions prepared in steps a) and b) are mixed in order to obtain a paste; d) a heat treatment of the paste obtained in step c) is carried out in order to obtain the monolith with multimodal porosity.