Microwave stiffening system for ceramic extrudates

• Main Authors: BERGMAN RICHARD, GEORGE JACOB, MUKTOYUK MARK S.K, KIMREY HAROLD D.JR, SCHULZ REBECCA L, VILENO ELIZABETH M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.05.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; ARTIFICIAL STONE; BLASTING; CEMENTS; CERAMICS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDINGMATERIALS; CONCRETE; DRYING; DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIME, MAGNESIA; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BESHAPED; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIALCONTAINING PLASTICS; REFRACTORIES; SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS, SLAG, OR MIXTURESCONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SLAG; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE; WEAPONS; WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

An apparatus and method for stiffening an wet extruded ceramic body for improved handling prior to drying and firing. The ceramic body is formed from a plastically deformable material including inorganic raw materials, and organics, such as a binder having a thermal gel point. As the ceramic body log exits the extruder die it is passed through a microwave energy field to be heated to above the gelling point of the organic binder. The ceramic body then stiffens and can be easily handled without deformation.