An inorganic fiber molded body includes an alumina fiber, an inorganic porous filler, and a colloidal silica, in which a ratio of crystalline minerals in the alumina fiber is 30% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less, the inorganic porous filler contains CaO.Math.6Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in which a particle diameter D95, which has a cumulative value of 95% in a volume frequency particle size distribution, is 300 μm or less, and in 100% by mass of the inorganic fiber molded body, a content of the alumina fiber is 15% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less, a content of the inorganic porous filler is 20% by mass or more and 79% by mass or less, and a content of the colloidal silica is 2% by mass or more and 8% by mass or less.

An inorganic fiber molded body includes an alumina fiber, an inorganic porous filler, and a colloidal silica, in which a ratio of crystalline minerals in the alumina fiber is 30% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less, the inorganic porous filler contains CaO.Math.6Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in which a particle diameter D95, which has a cumulative value of 95% in a volume frequency particle size distribution, is 300 μm or less, and in 100% by mass of the inorganic fiber molded body, a content of the alumina fiber is 15% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less, a content of the inorganic porous filler is 20% by mass or more and 79% by mass or less, and a content of the colloidal silica is 2% by mass or more and 8% by mass or less.

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.

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.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter comprises a ceramic honeycomb body comprising a plurality of intersecting walls that define a plurality of channels extending longitudinally though the ceramic honeycomb body. The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads. The microstructure has a total 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 in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is from 1.5 μm to 4 μm and an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity is from 6 μm to 20 μm.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter comprises a ceramic honeycomb body comprising a plurality of intersecting walls that define a plurality of channels extending longitudinally though the ceramic honeycomb body. The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads. The microstructure has a total 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 in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is from 1.5 μm to 4 μm and an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity is from 6 μm to 20 μm.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter includes intersecting walls that define longitudinally extending channels The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a bare microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads that has an open intrabead porosity within the beads and an interbead porosity defined by interstices between the beads. Catalyst particles are deposited at least partially within the intrabead porosity within the interbead porosity. The bare microstructure has a bimodal pore size distribution in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is less than an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity. The filter has a trimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak corresponding to the interbead porosity, a second peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity, and a third peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity as blocked by the catalyst particles.

A particulate filter and method of manufacture. The particulate filter includes intersecting walls that define longitudinally extending channels The intersecting walls comprise a porous ceramic material having a bare microstructure that comprises an interconnected network of porous spheroidal ceramic beads that has an open intrabead porosity within the beads and an interbead porosity defined by interstices between the beads. Catalyst particles are deposited at least partially within the intrabead porosity within the interbead porosity. The bare microstructure has a bimodal pore size distribution in which an intrabead median pore size of the intrabead porosity is less than an interbead median pore size of the interbead porosity. The filter has a trimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak corresponding to the interbead porosity, a second peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity, and a third peak corresponding to the intrabead porosity as blocked by the catalyst particles.

A composition, utility material, and method of making a utility material is disclosed. A composition having an improved setting time may include a plurality of microparticles mixed with a sodium silicate binder and an isocyanate setting agent, where the microparticle composition has a setting time of less than or equal to one hour. A utility material may be a wallboard that includes the composition.

A composition, utility material, and method of making a utility material is disclosed. A composition having an improved setting time may include a plurality of microparticles mixed with a sodium silicate binder and an isocyanate setting agent, where the microparticle composition has a setting time of less than or equal to one hour. A utility material may be a wallboard that includes the composition.