Honeycomb ceramics, porous with linear hollow channels, are being used worldwide in automotive catalytic converters and as diesel particulate filters for trucks. Flexural testing of this type of ceramics is addressed in a new ASTM International standard, ASTM C1674, Test Method for Flexural Strength of Advanced Ceramics with Engineered Porosity (Honeycomb Cellular Channels) at Ambient Temperatures. ASTM C1674 was developed by Subcommittee C28.04 on Applications, part of ASTM International Committee C28 on Advanced Ceramics.

"With a growing market, ceramic producers and automotive users need to have a well-defined, comprehensive consensus standard for characterizing the mechanical strength of these ceramics as a function of geometry, materials and environmental exposure," says Stephen Gonczy, president, Gateway Materials Technology, current C28 chair and ASTM member for more than 20 years. "ASTM C1674 will be used to test the quality and durability of ceramic honeycombs used in automotive catalyst supports, diesel particulate filters and combustion burner plates."

Ceramic producers, filter and catalyst suppliers, and automotive and truck manufacturers will use the new standard to test production materials, develop new compositions and configurations and evaluate the environmental durability of the material. According to Gonczy, Subcommittee C28.04 is going to develop other mechanical and physical tests for honeycomb ceramics. In addition, the subcommittee will also be working on standards for porous ceramics with three-dimensional cellular ceramic foam structures that are being used as filters and energy absorption materials.

Gonczy notes that the task group that developed ASTM C1674 is working on an interlaboratory study to quantify the repeatability and reproducibility of the honeycomb flexure test across a range of compositions, architectures and specimen sizes. Ceramic producers and end users are welcome to join Subcommittee C28.04.
              
For technical Information, contact Stephen T. Gonczy, Gateway Materials Technology, Mt. Prospect, Ill. (phone: 847-870-1621; gatewaymt@aol.com).  Committee C28 meets Jan. 17-18, 2009, in conjunction with the American Ceramics Society in Daytona Beach, Fla. For meeting or membership information, contact Joe Koury (phone: 610-832-9804; jkoury@astm.org).

Release #8055/Sept08