Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
  • F01N3/08—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous
  • F01N3/10—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust
  • F01N3/24—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust characterised by constructional aspects of converting apparatus
  • F01N3/28—Construction of catalytic reactors
  • F01N3/2839—Arrangements for mounting catalyst support in housing, e.g. with means for compensating thermal expansion or vibration
  • F01N3/2853—Arrangements for mounting catalyst support in housing, e.g. with means for compensating thermal expansion or vibration using mats or gaskets between catalyst body and housing
  • F01N3/2857—Arrangements for mounting catalyst support in housing, e.g. with means for compensating thermal expansion or vibration using mats or gaskets between catalyst body and housing the mats or gaskets being at least partially made of intumescent material, e.g. unexpanded vermiculite
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
  • F01N3/08—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous
  • F01N3/10—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust
  • F01N3/24—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust characterised by constructional aspects of converting apparatus
  • F01N3/28—Construction of catalytic reactors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
  • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
  • B28B1/00—Producing shaped prefabricated articles from the material
  • B28B1/20—Producing shaped prefabricated articles from the material by centrifugal or rotational casting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B28—WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE
  • B28B—SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER
  • B28B19/00—Machines or methods for applying the material to surfaces to form a permanent layer thereon
  • B28B19/0038—Machines or methods for applying the material to surfaces to form a permanent layer thereon lining the outer wall of hollow objects, e.g. pipes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B14/00—Use of inorganic materials as fillers, e.g. pigments, for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of inorganic materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
  • C04B14/02—Granular materials, e.g. microballoons
  • C04B14/022—Carbon
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B14/00—Use of inorganic materials as fillers, e.g. pigments, for mortars, concrete or artificial stone; Treatment of inorganic materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone
  • C04B14/02—Granular materials, e.g. microballoons
  • C04B14/04—Silica-rich materials; Silicates
  • C04B14/20—Mica; Vermiculite
  • C04B14/202—Vermiculite
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
  • F01N3/02—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust
  • F01N3/021—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for cooling, or for removing solid constituents of, exhaust by means of filters
  • F01N3/0211—Arrangements for mounting filtering elements in housing, e.g. with means for compensating thermal expansion or vibration
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B2111/00—Mortars, concrete or artificial stone or mixtures to prepare them, characterised by specific function, property or use
  • C04B2111/00474—Uses not provided for elsewhere in C04B2111/00
  • C04B2111/0081—Uses not provided for elsewhere in C04B2111/00 as catalysts or catalyst carriers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
  • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
  • C04B2111/00—Mortars, concrete or artificial stone or mixtures to prepare them, characterised by specific function, property or use
  • C04B2111/20—Resistance against chemical, physical or biological attack
  • C04B2111/28—Fire resistance, i.e. materials resistant to accidental fires or high temperatures
  • C04B2111/285—Intumescent materials
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
  • Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies

Definitions

• the present invention relates to supports for catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters, and a method for mounting supports in a catalytic converter or diesel particulate filter.
• Pollution control devices are employed on motor vehicles to control atmospheric pollution.
• Two types of pollution control devices are currently in widespread use — catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters. Both of these types of devices typically contain a monolithic structure mounted within a metal housing with a mounting material disposed between the structure and the walls of the housing.
• the monolithic structure, or monolith is currently made from metal or more commonly, a ceramic material.
• the housing is typically made of stainless steel.
• a catalytic converter also includes a catalyst, which is typically coated onto the interior ofthe monolithic structure housed in the converter.
• the catalyst catalyzes reactions that oxidize hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and reduce the oxides of nitrogen.
• Ceramic monoliths generally have very thin walls and are susceptible to breakage.
• a ceramic monolith has a coefficient of thermal expansion about an order of magnitude less than the metal housing in which it is contained.
• ceramic mat materials are typically disposed between the ceramic monolith and the metal housing. Ceramic mat materials and intumescent sheet materials useful for supporting the ceramic monolith are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,916,057 (Hatch et al.), 4,305,992 (Langer et al.), and 4,385,135 (Langer et al.).
• Catalytic converters employing intumescent sheet mounting materials generally use a single rectangularly shaped sheet or mat having a slot on one end and a tab on the other.
• the sheet or mat is wrapped around the lateral outer surface ofthe ceramic monolith with tab and slot engaged to form a seam in the mat.
• a disadvantage of such systems is that the tab must fit exactly into the slot to ensure a tight gas seal about the periphery ofthe ceramic monolith.
• This mounting method is difficult to perform in an automated process and hand operations can be expensive and time consuming.
• the ceramic monoliths typically vary +/- 2 mm in diameter; therefore, the circumference, or perimeter, ofthe monolith may vary +/- 6 mm.
• This variance in monolith diameter means that the mat will tend to be either too long or too short as the individual ceramic monolith varies.
• An overlap ofthe mat can cause improper closure ofthe housing with the attendant risk of mounting failure or crushing ofthe ceramic monolith.
• An overlap is usually avoided by designing the mat length for a monolith having the minimum perimeter. This ensures that mat overlap will never occur, but it also means that the mat will often be too short and leave a space or gap where the two ends ofthe mat should come together. This space is undesirable because it provides additional edge area on the mat for the exhaust gas to impinge upon. Under severe driving conditions this exposed edge can provide a site for mat erosion to begin. This space also allows a greater amount of heat to be conducted to the metal housing because hot exhaust gases come into direct contact with the metal housing and can eventually damage the housing.
• the paste material typically must be heated to approximately 600C to expand the intumescent material to secure the monolith in the housing. It has also been suggested that the monolith may be coated directly with an intumescent composition (U.S. Patent No, 3,916,057 (Hatch et al.))
• a disadvantage to the methods that have been used is the difficulty in applying a uniform coating around the fragile monolith. Any areas having an overly thick coating ofthe paste can exert excessive pressure against the monolith when it is heated, which can result in crushing ofthe monolith.
• the invention provides a method of making a catalytic converter for automotive exhaust gases comprising:
• the method further comprises disposing said catalytic converter element in a housing after step (c). Analogous methods of making diesel particulate filters and high temperature rigid filters are also described.
• the invention also provides a catalytic converter element comprising a predetermined non-uniform coating ofa mounting material.
• the invention provides a catalytic converter comprising:
• the invention also provides an alternative method of making a catalytic converter for automotive exhaust gases comprising:
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of molding material molded onto a monolith.
• Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a mold filled with monolith and paste.
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofa monolith with strips attached to each end ofthe monolith for centering in the mold.
• Fig. 4 is an end view of a monolith showing major cross-sectional axis and minor cross-sectional axis;
• Fig. 4 A is an end view of a monolith with paste applied.
• Fig. 5 illustrates the configuration of end-caps for knife coating
• Fig. 5 A is an end view of a monolith with paste applied
• Fig. 6 contains the Real Condition Fixture Test curves for Example 1.
• Fig. 7 illustrates the high speed compression test curves for the paste of Example 1 and for an InteramTM Type 100 Automotive Mounting Mat.
• Fig. 8 is a schematic of an apparatus for molding the mounting material around the monolith.
• the invention provides a method of making a catalytic converter for automotive exhaust gases comprising:
• the catalytic converter element is disposed in a housing after step (c).
• the housing is preferably metallic.
• the catalytic converter element is heated after step (c).
• the catalytic converter element may be heated after step (b) and before step (c).
• the catalytic converter element is heated to a temperature from about 60C to about 150C after step (c) and then said catalytic converter element is disposed in a housing.
• the seamless continuous coating is preferably formed around a major portion ofthe element.
• the present invention also provides a monolithic structure assembly (10) shown in Figure 1 having an intumescent mounting material (1 1) molded around the outside lateral surface ofthe monolithic structure (12) to a predetermined outside dimension.
• the monolithic structure or monolith is a ceramic or metal structure or a high temperature rigid filter.
• An example of a high temperature rigid filter is a ceramic foam filter for filtering molten aluminum.
• the structure can subsequently be mounted in a housing, such as a metal can or casing, used for catalytic converters or diesel particulate filters.
• a mold (30) shown in Figure 2 which approximates the contour and inside dimension ofthe metal housing into which the monolithic structure is to be inserted.
• the mold dimensions are determined with consideration given to the amount of shrinkage that the paste will exhibit after the volatiles are removed.
• the mold has at least one port (31) through which an intumescent material can be injected.
• the port is located midway along the axial length ofthe mold.
• one or more openings (32) are preferably provided to permit air to continuously bleed out as the mold is filled. In a specific embodiment, the opening for removal of air is located 180° from the injection port.
• the mold can also be provided with end caps (33) made of suitable materials such as plastic, rubber metal, or the like.
• the end caps generally extend axially beyond the edge ofthe monolith to properly center it in the mold cavity.
• the bottom end cap rests on a piston (35) which is later used to eject the monolith assembly from the mold after coating.
• the mold can further include a rigid cover (36) held in place with fasteners (38) so that the monolith with end caps is sealed between cover (36) and piston (35).
• the monolith (12) is positioned inside ofthe mold (30) by attaching a narrow strip ofa mat or sheet material (40) around one or both ends ofthe monolith.
• the strip then acts as a spacer to center the monolith in the mold and to provide a continuous gap between the mold and the monolith.
• the strip can be attached with any conventional means including adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, staples, and the like.
• the strip can be temporary, in which case it could be removed prior to mounting the coated monolith in a catalytic converter or diesel filter.
• Suitable temporary materials include, but are not limited to, cardboard, flexible foam sheets, plastic sheets, and the like.
• the strip can also be permanent in which case it would be mounted into the converter or filter with the monolith.
• Suitable sheet or mat materials for this use include the temporary materials as well as intumescent sheet and mat materials such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,916,057 (Hatch et al.), 4,385,135 (Langer et al.), and 4,305,992 (Langer et al.).
• suitable commercially available materials include InteramTM Automotive Mounting Mats from Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company Edge protection materials, including a strip of wire mesh fabric as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,008,086 (Merry) and the glass filled strip material disclosed in EP 639 701 Al (Howorth et al.), EP 639 702 Al (Howorth et al.), and
• EP 639 700 Al (Stroom et al.) may also be used.
• Suitable commercially available wire mesh seals include knitted and/or compressed end seals obtained from ACS Industries Inc., Woonsocket, Rhode Island, or Metex Industrial Products Div. Edison, New Jersey, which may also be used to seal the monolith in the housing. The latter approach would provide further protection from erosion by hot gases at the edges ofthe coating during use in a catalytic converter.
• a viscous intumescent composition preferably as a paste, is injected into the mold until it is filled, as could be evidenced by the paste seeping out ofthe opening(s) for air bleed out.
• the intumescent compositions are high viscosity pastes that maintain a shape when molded, but are sufficiently flowable so that the composition can be pumped and injected into the mold.
• the monolith assembly can be separated from the mold by means such as ejecting the assembly from the mold or removing the mold from the assembly.
• the resulting monolith assembly has a seamless coating of paste continuously surrounding the monolith and a controlled outside diameter.
• the coated assembly optionally can be dried to remove the volatile materials by, for example, placing the coated monolith in an oven at 105C for about 16 hours.
• the monolith assembly can subsequently be securely mounted in a catalytic converter housing without requiring the labor intensive steps needed for mounting mats.
• the coated assembly can be dried by microwave drying.
• compositions include pastes having a binder and an intumescent agent, preferably dispersed in water, although solvents can be used in some compositions.
• a typical paste composition includes, by dry weight percent, 2 to 90 percent of at least one unexpanded intumescent material, 98 to 10 percent binder, 0 to 25 percent fibers, and 0 to 70 percent fillers.
• the paste comprises 40 to 80 dry weight percent of unexpanded vermiculite.
• the paste comprises 40 to 80 dry weight percent unexpanded vermiculite and 20 to 50 dry weight percent of binder.
• the paste comprises 40 to 80 dry weight percent of unexpanded vermiculite, 20 to 50 dry weight percent of inorganic binder, and 1 to 5 dry weight percent of organic fibers.
• the composition includes 64.2% #4 unexpanded vermiculite, 33.8% binder (14.2% clay, 19.6% expanded vermiculite) and 2.0%) rayon fiber.
• Useful binder materials, or binders can include one or more inorganic binders, one or more organic binders, or any combinations thereof.
• Suitable inorganic binder materials include water swellable clays, such as montmorillonite (present in major amounts in bentonite, hectorite, and saponite) and kaolinite, water swellable synthetic mica, such as tetrasilisic fluorine mica, in either the water-swelling unexchanged form or after flocculation, as the exchanged salt with a divalent or polyvalent cation, expanded vermiculite, and ground expanded vermiculite (also described as delaminated vermiculite) which can be prepared, for example, by ball- milling or high shear mixing of expanded vermiculite.
• water swellable clays such as montmorillonite (present in major amounts in bentonite, hectorite, and saponite) and kaolinite
• water swellable synthetic mica such as tetrasilisic fluorine mica, in either the water-swelling unexchanged form or after flocculation, as the exchanged
• Organic binders include polymers and elastomers, which can be used in various forms including aqueous polymer emulsions, i.e., a latex, solvent based compositions, and as 100% solids.
• Suitable elastomers and polymers include natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers such as styrene butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, acrylate and methacrylate homopolymers and copolymers, and polyurethanes.
• the organic binder can include at least one of a tackifier(s), a plasticizer(s), or other modifiers, such as a rheology modifier(s), or combinations thereof.
• Tackifiers, or tackifying resins include hydrocarbons or modified rosin esters, and typically provide adhesive-type properties to a polymer. Tackifiers aid in holding the binder, and fillers together.
• Plasticizers tend to soften a polymer matrix and thereby contribute to the flexibility and moldability ofthe sheet materials made from the composition.
• Rheology modifiers can increase or decrease the viscosity ofthe composition and can include, for example, acrylic latexes.
• a preferred organic binder material includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion.
• Acrylic emulsions are preferred because of their aging properties and noncorrosive combustion products.
• Useful acrylic emulsions include those commercially available under the trade designations "RHOPLEX TR-934" (a 44.5% by weight solids aqueous acrylic emulsion) and "RHOPLEX HA-8" (a 44.5% by weight solids aqueous emulsion of acrylic copolymers) from Rohm and Haas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• a preferred acrylic emulsion is commercially available under the trade designation "NEOCRYL XA- 2022" (a 60.5% solids aqueous dispersion of acrylic resin) from ICI Resins U.S. of Wilmington, Massachusetts.
• a preferred organic binder material comprises acrylic resin in the range from about 20 to about 40% by weight, plastirizer(s) (e.g., such as that commercially available under the trade designation "SANTICIZER 148” (isodecyl diphenyl diphosphate) from Monsanto of St.
• plastirizer(s) e.g., such as that commercially available under the trade designation "SANTICIZER 148” (isodecyl diphenyl diphosphate) from Monsanto of St.
• tackifier(s) e.g., rosin tackifier such as that commercially available under the trade designation "SNOWTACK 820A" (a 50% by weight aqueous rosin dispersion; melting point of rosin: 55°C) from Eka Nobel, Inc., of Toronto, Canada) in the range from about 40 to about 20% by weight, based on the total weight ofthe resulting dispersion.
• rosin tackifier e.g., rosin tackifier such as that commercially available under the trade designation "SNOWTACK 820A” (a 50% by weight aqueous rosin dispersion; melting point of rosin: 55°C) from Eka Nobel, Inc., of Toronto, Canada
• SNOWTACK 820A a 50% by weight aqueous rosin dispersion; melting point of rosin: 55°C
• Suitable intumescent materials include unexpanded vermiculite, vermiculite ore, hydrobiotite, water swellable synthetic tetrasilicic fluorine type mica described in U.S. Patent No. 3,001,571, alkali metal silicate granules as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,521,333 (Graham et al.), and expandable graphite.
• Suitable intumescent materials also include ExpantrolTM granules available from Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul MINNESOTA.
• Preferred intumescent materials are unexpanded vermiculite, vermiculite ore, and expandable graphite.
• the composition can also include reinforcing fibers in amounts from about 0 to 25% by weight ofthe dried composition.
• Various types of fibers may be used alone or in combination depending on the end result desired.
• organic fibers may be used to provide resiliency and strength to bond particulate materials of the paste together prior to heating. These fibers are typically burned off within several heating cycles ofa catalytic converter.
• Useful organic fiber materials include regenerated cellulose and acrylics.
• Commercially available organic fibers include CFFTM brand Fibrillated Acrylic Fibers from Cytec Industries, Inc., West Paterson, New Jersey. Rayon fibers are commercially available from various suppliers including Mini Fiber, Inc., Johnson City, Tennessee.
• Inorganic fibers may also be included to bind the particulates prior to heating, as well as to provide strength and resiliency before, during, and after exposure to high temperatures.
• Useful materials for fibers include graphite, alumina- silica, silica, calcia-silica, asbestos, glass, and metals, such as Inconel and stainless steel.
• Suitable inorganic fibers include soft glass fibers, refractory filaments, such as zirconia-silica fibers described in U.S. Patent No. 3,709,706, crystalline alumina whiskers, aluminosilicate fibers, and ceramic fibers disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,795,524 (Sowman) and 4,047,965 (Karst et al.).
• Suitable fibers that are commercially available for use as reinforcement fibers or as chopped fibers dispersed within the mounting materials include aluminosilicate fibers (available, for example, under the trade designations "NEXTEL 312 CERAMIC FIBERS,” “NEXTEL 440 CERAMIC FIBERS,” and “NEXTEL 550 CERAMIC FIBERS” from Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company), “FLBERFRAX 7000M” from Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, New York, “CERAFLBER” from Thermal Ceramics of Augusta, Georgia, and stainless steel fibers (commercially available, for example, under the trade designation "BEKI-SHLELD GR90/C2/2" from Bekaert Steel Wire Corp. of Atlanta, Georgia).
• aluminosilicate fibers available, for example, under the trade designations "NEXTEL 312 CERAMIC FIBERS,” “NEXTEL 440 CERAMIC FIBERS,” and “NEXTEL 550 CERAMIC FIBERS
• the composition preferably includes glass fibers having a diameter less than about 1.5 micrometer, and preferably less than about 1 micrometer, and glass fibers having a diameter from about 5 to 20 micrometers, and preferably from about 8 to 12 micrometers in diameter.
• Useful types of glasses include calcium borosilicate glasses, such as calcium aluminoborosilicate glasses, magnesium aluminoborosilicate glasses, and alkali borosilicate glasses.
• Preferred glasses are alkali borosilicate glasses and magnesium aluminosilicate glasses.
• glass refers to an amo ⁇ hous (i.e., a material having a diffuse x-ray diffraction pattem without definite lines to indicate the presence ofa crystalline phase) inorganic oxide material.
• Suitable glass fibers have a softening point near the temperature of use. This temperature is typically below about 900C, preferably below about 850C, and most preferably below about 800C.
• softening point refers to the temperature at which a glass in the form ofa fiber of uniform diameter begins to deform under its own weight. Suitable glass fibers include those commercially available under the Micro-StrandTM Micro-FibersTM trademarks from Schuller International, Inc., and S-2 glass fibers from Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio.
• the glass fibers less than about 1.5 micrometers in diameter are included in amounts from about 0.25% by weight to about 5 percent, and preferably from about 0.25 percent to about 1 percent.
• Other types of fillers may also be included in the composition in amounts of from 0 to 70% by weight.
• Useful fillers include low density materials such as pearlite, fillite, fly ash, or diatomaceous earth. These low density materials can be used to improve the thermal conductivity ofthe mounting materials and keep the outside shell ofthe catalytic converter cooler.
• Other useful fillers include crushable fillers such as glass bubbles, z-light spheres from Zeelan, and MacroliteTM ceramic spheres from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; these crushable fillers collapse during the initial heating to reduce the compression ofthe mounting material.
• Other inert fillers can be added to improve the rheology ofthe paste composition or to reduce cost. Examples of inert fillers include alumina or silica powder.
• compositions can further include surfactants or foaming agent to aid in dispersing the materials in water or solvent to form uniform dispersions.
• the modulus ofthe intumescent mounting material can be changed by wrapping a reinforcing material, such as corrugated wire mesh fabric, around the monolith prior to injection ofthe intumescent paste.
• a reinforcing material such as corrugated wire mesh fabric
• the wire mesh is of sufficient porosity as to allow the paste to be injected through it.
• Suitable wire mesh fabrics include 304 stainless steel wire mesh, #12 crimp, 48 density .011" wire, single or multiple strand, commercially available from Metex Industrial Product Div., Edison, New Jersey.
• the resulting assembly is a seamless, intumescent coating with an internal wire mesh reinforcement.
• the paste could be injected around a mat wrapped monolith.
• Suitable mats would include InteramTM mats from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company or ceramic papers from Carborundum, Niagara Falls, New York, or Thermal Ceramics, Augusta, Georgia.
• the mounting material is a fiberless paste having, on a dry weight basis, 30 to 40 percent inorganic binders, and 60 to 70 percent intumescent materials.
• the paste is formed from inorganic binders, intumescent materials, and from about 0.25% to about 1% by weight microfibers having a diameter of less than about 1.5 micrometer.
• the paste composition is free of refractory ceramic fibers.
• the method ofthe invention can also be used to provide a nonuniform thickness of mounting material around the periphery ofa monolith which is not generally feasible with mat or sheet mounting. This is an important consideration because the stiffness ofthe can or housing can be nonuniform and the pressure exerted against the monolith can be nonuniform as a result.
• the can (44) is much stiffer along its major axis (A) than it is along its minor axis (B).
• the mold so that the monolith is coated with a thicker layer of paste along the minor axis to produce a more uniform force about the entire periphery ofthe monolith as shown in Figure 4 A.
• the monolith may also be coated with a somewhat thinner layer of paste in the areas that are at a 45° angle to the cell walls ofthe monolith.
• the monolith has its lowest strength along this axis.
• the paste composition can be uniformly knife coated onto the monolith. This can be done by providing two end caps (50) shown in Figure 5 that fit over the ends ofthe monolith and have sidewalls with a thickness approximately equal to the desired thickness ofthe coating. The end caps are securely positioned over the ends ofthe monolith and an excess of paste is applied to the monolith. A knife, positioned against the end caps, is drawn around the periphery ofthe monolith and the excess paste is removed by the knife. The resulting monolith assembly is optionally dried and then mounted in a housing. In practice, a mat or sheet material can also be used in combination with the coated monolithic structure assembly.
• a paste composition having a material that intumesces at a lower temperature, such as expandable graphite, than the intumescent material ofthe mat, or vice versa.
• This would be particularly useful for mounting a catalytic converter for a diesel vehicle where low temperature expandable graphite would be used.
• the invention also provides advantages in the assembly ofa catalytic converter. Since the dimensions ofthe mold are constant, the amount of paste injected into the mold is controlled by the size ofthe monolith and can therefore compensate for the large dimensional tolerance ofthe ceramic monolith. Thus, if a monolith were on the small end ofthe tolerance range, it receives a greater amount of paste than a similar monolith on the large end ofthe tolerance range.
• Both monoliths after coating and drying would have substantially the same outer dimension. Since the cost of producing ceramic monoliths is to a large degree a function ofthe dimensional tolerance required, it is possible to reduce the cost of making the monoliths by broadening the dimensional tolerances and compensating for these larger tolerances by varying the amount of intumescent paste applied. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the normal gap and the slot/tab configuration of prior art catalytic monolith mounting mats and thereby eliminate the gaps as sources of heat transfer and mat erosion.
• the metal housing which is also referred to as a can or a casing, can be made from suitable materials known in the art for such use. Preferably, the housing is made of stainless steel.
• Suitable catalytic converter elements also referred to as monoliths and monolithic structures, are known in the art and include those made of metal or ceramic.
• the monoliths or elements are used to support the catalyst materials for the converter.
• a useful catalytic converter element is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. RE 27,747 (Johnson).
• ceramic catalytic converter elements are commercially available, for example, from Coming Inc. of Corning, New York, and NGK Insulator Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan.
• a honeycomb ceramic catalyst support is marketed under the trade designation "CELCOR” by Corning Inc. and "HONEYCERAM” by NGK Insulator Ltd.
• Metal catalytic converter elements are commercially available from Behr GmbH and Emitec Co. of Germany.
• the catalyst materials coated onto the catalytic converter elements include those known in the art (e.g., metals such as ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, and platinum, and metal oxides such as vanadium pentoxide and titanium dioxide).
• metals such as ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, and platinum
• metal oxides such as vanadium pentoxide and titanium dioxide.
• Conventional monolithic type diesel particulate filter elements are typically wall flow filters comprised of honeycombed, porous, crystalline ceramic (e.g., cordierite) material.
• Alternate cells ofthe honeycombed structure are typically plugged such that exhaust gas enters in one cell and is forced through the porous wall of one cell and exits the structure through another cell.
• the size ofthe diesel particulate filter element depends on the particular application needs.
• Useful diesel particulate filter elements are commercially available, for example, from Corning Inc. of Corning, New York, and NGK Insulator Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan. Further, useful diesel particulate filter elements are discussed in "Cellular Ceramic Diesel Particulate Filter,” Howitt et al., Paper No. 810114, SAE Technical Paper Series, 1981. The following non-limiting examples illustrate specific embodiments ofthe invention.
• the RCFT is a test used to measure the pressure exerted by the mounting material under conditions representative of actual conditions found in a catalytic converter during normal use.
• This test shows the ability of a mounting material to maintain pressure as it is rapidly compressed.
• a 5.08 cm diameter disc is cut from the mounting material and mounted between two 10.5 cm diameter movable plates positioned 7 mm apart. The plates are closed at a closing speed of 254 c /min and the gap is reduced from 7 mm to 3 mm. The gap is maintained at 3 mm for 1 minute while recording pressure using an MTS Tensile Tester, MTS Systems Corp. The test results are printed in a graph of pressure vs. gap distance.
• the Hot Shake Test is used to evaluate a mounting material for a catalytic converter by subjecting a catalytic converter with the mounting to vibration and hot exhaust gas from a gasoline engine.
• a catalytic converter with the ceramic monolith mounted securely within it, is attached to a solid fixture atop a shaker table (Model TC 208 Electrodynamic Shaker Table from Unholtz-Dickie Corp., Wallingford, Connecticut).
• the converter is then attached through a flexible coupling to the exhaust system ofa Ford Motor Co. 7.5 liter displacement V-8 gasoline powered intemal combustion engine.
• the converter is tested using an inlet exhaust gas temperature of 900C at an engine speed of 2200 rpm with a 30.4 kg-meter load using an Eaton 8121 Eddy- current dynamometer while shaking the converter at 100 Hz and 30 g acceleration from the shaker table.
• the converter is shaken for 100 hours and then taken apart and examined visually.
• This test is an accelerated test conducted under conditions that are more severe than actual conditions in a catalytic converter and provides comparative data
• a test sample is cut into a square measuring 2.54 cm by 2.54 cm, weighed, and mounted between two high temperature Inconel 601 steel plates using steel spacers to obtain a mount density of 0.700 +/-0.005 g/cm (the steel spacers are selected to arrive at a mount density of 0.700 g cm ).
• the test assembly is then heated for one hour at 800C and then cooled to room temperature.
• the cooled test assembly is weighed to the nearest 0.01 gram and the assembly is then positioned 3.8 mm in front of an impinging air jet of near sonic velocity, and oscillating back and forth over the edge ofthe mat at 20 cycles per minute over a distance of 1.9 cm.
• the edge ofthe mounting composite is exposed to the impinging air jet.
• the erosion rate is determined by the weight loss divided by the time ofthe test and is reported in grams/hour (g/hr).
• An intumescent composition was prepared by adding 199.8 grams of #5 expanded vermiculite (W.R. Grace Co., Cambridge, Massachusetts), 131.4 grams of 200 mesh Bentonite Clay (Black Hills Bentonite Co., Casper Wyoming) and 874.8 grams of water to a one gallon (3.8 liter) Baker Perkins Sigma blade mixer (Model 4 AN2 from Baker Perkins, now APV Chemical Machinery, Inc. Saginaw, Michigan), and mixing for 40 minutes. Then 594 grams of #4 vermiculite ore (Cometals, Inc., New York, New York) were added and mixing continued for an additional 5 minutes. The composition was then cast onto a Teflon film into a sheet that was approximately 6 mm thick and dried overnight at about 35C.
• the dried composition was 35.8% binder (clay and expanded vermiculite) and 64.9% intumescent material (vermiculite ore).
• the dried composition was tested for mounting compression according to the RCFT described above.
• the curves in Figure 6 show the holding pressure vs. temperature for two temperature cycles on the RCFT. The results show that sufficient pressure was exerted by the inorganic paste over the entire temperature range normally encountered in a catalytic converter.
• the paste sheet was also tested for high speed compression and compared with a mat material ofthe prior art having a similar thickness.
• the test results are plotted on a graph of pressure vs. time shown in Figure 7.
• the graph indicates that the inorganic paste was stiffer and built pressure faster, but it maintained the pressure, which unlike the prior art which relaxed with time. This ability to maintain the pressure is another advantage provided by fiber free materials.
• the paste sheet was tested in the Cold Erosion Test and it had an erosion rate of 0.00083 g/hr.
• a standard caulking tube was filled with the paste composition of Example 1.
• a round 12.7 cm outside diameter metal tube that was approximately 16.5 cm long with a wall thickness of 1.6 mm was used as a mold.
• An 11.84 cm diameter by 15.24 cm long monolith was inserted into the mold.
• the metal tube had an approximately 3 mm diameter port located about midway along the length ofthe tube for injecting the paste composition. Also, approximately midlength, but 180° from the injection hole was a smaller hole which allowed air to bleed out ofthe mold cavity during injection.
• the inorganic paste was injected into the mold cavity using a hand-held caulking gun containing the caulking tube filled with the inorganic paste.
• the paste was injected into the mold until it began coming out ofthe air bleed hole at which time injection was stopped.
• the coated monolith was then pushed out ofthe tubular mold.
• the monolith was covered with a smooth seamless coating ofthe inorganic, fiberless paste.
• the paste coated monolith was then put into an oven at approximately 105°C overnight to dry.
• the resulting assembly was a very hard coating of a fiberless, inorganic paste adhered to the surface ofthe monolith.
• Example 1 The inorganic paste composition of Example 1 was knife coated onto two oval ceramic monoliths. Each monolith had an outside dimension of 146 mm by 89 mm by 89 mm long, and after drying, the coated monolith outside dimensions approximated the inside dimension ofa 409 SS dual cavity can (obtained from Mare ont Corp. Loudon, Tennessee). The coated monoliths were placed inside the 409 SS can and the can was welded shut. Since there was virtually no initial holding force, the catalytic converter assembly was heated to about 500C for 1 hour to expand the mounting material. The converter was then tested on the Hot Shake Test. After 100 hours, the converter was then taken apart and the mounting material was found to be in good shape, i.e., little cracking. There had been no relative movement ofthe monolith inside ofthe can, indicating that the mounting material had securely held the monolith under the very severe conditions ofthe hot shake test.
• a slush was prepared by mixing 5 grams of glass fibers having a nominal diameter of 0.65 micrometers (Type 475-106 Micro-StrandTM Micro-FibersTM available from Schuller International, Inc., Denver, CO) and 874.8 grams of water for 30 seconds in a blender (Model 32BL39 available from Waring).
• the fiber/water slush was than added to a one gallon (3.8 liter) Baker Perkins Sigma Blade mixer which contained 194.8 grams of #5 expanded vermiculite (W.R. Grace Co.) and 131.4 grams of 200 mesh Bentonite clay and mixed for 30 minutes. Then 594 grams of #4 vermiculite ore (available from Cometals Inc.) was added and mixed for 5 minutes.
• the resulting paste composition, (dry weight percent) was 0.5% fibers, 35.3% binder (expanded vermiculite and clay), and 64.2% intumescent material.
• the paste composition was then cast onto a Teflon film into a sheet that was approximately 6 mm thick and dried overnight at about 35C.
• the dried paste sheet was tested in the Cold Erosion Test and it had an erosion rate of 0.00042 g/hr.
• An intumescent composition was prepared by adding 181.8 grams of #5 expanded vermiculite (W.R. Grace Co., Cambridge, Massachusetts), 131.4 grams of 200 mesh Bentonite Clay (Black Hills Bentonite Co., Casper Wyoming) and
• the paste composition was then cast onto a Teflon film into a sheet that was approximately 6 mm thick and dried overnight at about 35C.
• the dried paste sheet was tested in the Cold Erosion Test and it had an erosion rate of 0.0011 g/hr.
• Example 6-8 the paste compositions of Examples 1, 4, and 5, respectively, were knife coated onto NGK ceramic monoliths (obtained from
• Example 6 A seamless paste coating was bonded to the monolith; small cracks having 0.1 to 1.5 mm width and length as great as 3 cm were present.
• Example 7 A seamless paste coating was bonded to the monolith with no cracking.
• Example 8 A seamless paste coating was bonded to the monolith with no cracking.
• a molding apparatus (60) was provided according to the schematic of Figure 8 having a pressure tank (63) filled with a pumpable material.
• Bottom outlet (61) ofthe tank fed the material into a rod metering pump (64), and the pump injected the material into a cylindrical mold (70) having an oval cross section.
• the mold was provided with an inlet port (31), an air bleed hole (32), a bottom end plate (13), and a top end plate (14).
• the end plates were used to center the monolith in the mold and to hold it in place while the paste was injected.
• Bottom end plate (13) was attached to an air cylinder (2) which was used to push the coated monolith out ofthe mold cavity.
• a 3.2 in (8.13 cm) by 5.7 in (14.48 cm) by 2.96 in (7.52 cm) long oval ceramic NKG monolith obtained from Maremont Corp., Loudon, Tennessee was placed into the mold cavity and centered using the end plates such that there was a uniform 0.2 in (5.1 mm) gap around the monolith.
• Five gallons (21.1 liters) ofthe paste composition of Example 1 was placed in the pressure tank and the tank was pressurized to 40 pounds per square inch - psi (275.8 kiloPascals (kPa)).
• the pump was then turned off and the top end plate was unlocked and removed.
• the air cylinder set at a line pressure of 22 psi (151.7 kPa), was actuated and pushed the bottom plate and the monolith assembly up out ofthe mold.
• the monolith assembly was dried at room temperature for about 12 hours. The resulting assembly had a smooth seamless coating that adhered well to the surface ofthe monolith.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Exhaust Gas After Treatment (AREA)
• Catalysts (AREA)
• Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
• Exhaust Gas Treatment By Means Of Catalyst (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23974839

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (51)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (51)

• 1995
  • 1995-06-30 US US08/496,945 patent/US5686039A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-06-12 WO PCT/US1996/010207 patent/WO1997002414A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-06-12 DE DE69611449T patent/DE69611449T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-06-12 BR BR9609649A patent/BR9609649A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-12 CA CA002225811A patent/CA2225811A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-12 EP EP96919390A patent/EP0835368B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-06-12 JP JP9505147A patent/JPH11511064A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1996-06-12 KR KR1019970709829A patent/KR100418111B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-06-12 AU AU61740/96A patent/AU6174096A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events