Ceramic honeycomb filter and its production method
A ceramic honeycomb filter comprising a ceramic honeycomb structure having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous cordierite cell walls, and plugs formed in predetermined flow paths of the ceramic honeycomb structure; the plugs being formed by ceramic particles and an amorphous oxide matrix existing between the ceramic particles; in a cross section of the plugs, an area ratio A 1 of the amorphous oxide matrix in a longitudinal range of ⅓×t from one end, and an area ratio A 2 of the amorphous oxide matrix in a longitudinal range of ⅓×t from the other end meeting the relation of ½≤A 1 /A 2 ≤2, wherein t represents the length of the plug in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plug.
1. A ceramic honeycomb filter comprising a ceramic honeycomb structure having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous cell walls made of a material comprising cordierite as a main crystal, and plugs formed in predetermined flow paths of said ceramic honeycomb structure;
said plugs comprising ceramic particles and an amorphous oxide matrix existing between said ceramic particles;
said amorphous oxide matrix being 5-20 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of said ceramic particles; and
in a cross section of said plug including the center axis of said flow path, a ratio A 1 /A 2 meeting the relation of ½≤A 1 /A 2 ≤2, wherein A 1 represents an area ratio of said amorphous oxide matrix in a longitudinal range of ⅓×t from one end, A 2 represents an area ratio of said amorphous oxide matrix in a longitudinal range of ⅓×t from the other end, and t represents the length of said plug in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said plug.
2. The ceramic honeycomb filter according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio A 1 /A 2 of area ratios A 1 and A 2 of said amorphous oxide matrix meets the relation of ⅔≤A 1 /A 2 ≤1.5.
3. The ceramic honeycomb filter according to claim 1 , wherein said amorphous oxide matrix is silica.