Systems and methods for inspecting the outer skin of a honeycomb body are provided. The inspection system comprises a rotational sub-assembly configured to rotate the honeycomb body, a camera sub-assembly configured to image at least a portion of the outer skin of the honeycomb body as it rotates, a three-dimensional (3D) line sensor sub-assembly configured to obtain height information from the outer skin of the honeycomb body; and an edge sensor sub-assembly configured to obtain edge data from the circumferential edges of the honeycomb body. In some examples, the inspection system utilizes a universal coordinate system to synchronize or align the data obtain from each of these sources to prevent redundant or duplicative detection of one or more defects on the outer skin of the honeycomb body.

A manufacturing method of a ceramic formed body, including: a mixing step in which a raw material for forming a ceramic formed body is dryly mixed, and then, a liquid is added to the obtained dry mixture to wetly mix the mixture; a kneading step in which a mixture obtained in the mixing step is kneaded; an injection step in which supercritical carbon dioxide in the state of supercritical fluid is injected into a kneaded product obtained in the kneading step; and a forming step in which a forming raw material containing the supercritical carbon dioxide obtained in the kneading step and the injection step is extruded to form the ceramic formed body.

A coating material for a silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, the coating material including from 20 to 75% by mass of ceramic powder (A), the ceramic powder (A) including from 55 to 95% by mass of silicon carbide and from 5 to 30% by mass of silicon dioxide as chemical components.

A coating material for a silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, the coating material including from 20 to 75% by mass of ceramic powder (A), the ceramic powder (A) including from 55 to 95% by mass of silicon carbide and from 5 to 30% by mass of silicon dioxide as chemical components.

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.

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 method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

A method and system for manufacturing and using a self-supporting structure in processing unit for adsorption or catalytic processes. The self-supporting structure has greater than 50% by weight of the active material in the self-supporting structure to provide an open-celled structure providing access to the active material. The self-supporting structures, which may be disposed in a processing unit, may be used in swing adsorption processes and other processes to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons.

A ceramic article and method of manufacturing. The ceramic article comprises a porous ceramic material having a microstructure comprising an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads. The microstructure has a total open porosity defined as the sum of an open intrabead porosity of the beads and an interbead porosity defined by interstices between the beads in the interconnected network. The microstructure has a bimodal pore size distribution having an intrabead peak corresponding to the open intrabead porosity and an interbead peak corresponding to the interbead porosity. An intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is less than an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity.