Catalyst substrate, method of manufacturing the same, and exhaust gas purification apparatus

1. A substrate comprising:

a ceramic base body including first and second ends, the second end being opposite to the first end, and the ceramic base body being provided with a plurality of cells each extending between the first and second ends; and

a plurality of metal particles or metal fragments introduced into one or more internal spaces of one or more selected cells in the plurality of cells, the metal particles or metal fragments including metal particles or metal fragments of ferritic stainless steel and/or martensitic stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, invar or super invar; and the number of selected cells being less than the number of non-selected cells, wherein

each of the plurality of metal particles or metal fragments has a size equal to or less than an opening width of the cell and is configured to generate heat in accordance with varying magnetic field, wherein

(i) or (ii) or (iii) is satisfied:

(i) the selected cell is occupied by the plurality of metal particles or metal fragments entirely between the first and second ends,

(ii) the plurality of metal particles or metal fragments are bonded to one another and to the ceramic base body via a bonding material in the internal space of the selected cell, and

(iii) a coating layer, where the metal particles or metal fragments are dispersed, is formed on an inner surface of a cell-wall of the selected cell,

wherein the first end and/or the second end is provided with a plurality of sealing portions, each of the plurality of sealing portions including ceramic material and being configured to seal an open end of the selected cell and to prevent a catalyst from flowing into the select cell, and

wherein said metal particles or metal fragments are not included in each of the plurality of sealing portions.

2. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the substrate consists of cordierite, and the plurality of sealing portions consist of cordierite.

3. The substrate of claim 1 in which (iii) is satisfied, wherein a hollow exists in at least one selected cell, in which the coating layer has been formed, in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to an extending direction of the ceramic base body between the first and second ends, and a ratio of an area of the hollow to an area of the cell in the cross-sectional plane is equal to or greater than 20%.

4. The substrate of claim 3 , wherein a ratio of an area of the hollow to an area of the cell in the cross-sectional plane is equal to or greater than 50%.

5. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the metal particles or metal fragments each has an average particle size equal to or less than 100 μm.

6. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein thermal expansion coefficient of ceramic material of the ceramic base body is equal to or less than 2×10 −6 /K.

7. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein initial permeability of metal material of the metal particle or metal fragment is equal to or greater than 5×10 −5 H/m.

8. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the cell-wall is equal to or less than 0.2 mm.

9. An exhaust gas purification apparatus, comprising:

an exhaust gas purification device that comprises a substrate of claim 1 , and a catalyst supported by the catalyst substrate; and

a coil wiring that spirally surrounds the exhaust gas purification device.

10. A method of manufacturing a catalyst substrate, comprising:

preparing a ceramic base body including first and second ends, the second end being opposite to the first end, and the ceramic base body being provided with a plurality of cells each extending between the first and second ends; and

introducing a plurality of metal particles or metal fragments into respective internal spaces of a plurality of selected cells in the plurality of cells of the ceramic base body, the metal particles or metal fragments including metal particles or metal fragments of ferritic stainless steel and/or martensitic stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, invar or super invar; and the number of selected cells being less than the number of non-selected cells, wherein

each of the plurality of metal particles or metal fragments has a size equal to or less than an opening width of the cell and is configured to generate heat in accordance with varying magnetic field, and

the method further comprises forming a plurality of sealing portions at the first end and/or the second end, each of the plurality of sealing portions including ceramic material and being configured to seal an open end of the selected cell, and to prevent a catalyst from flowing into the cell, and

wherein said metal particles or metal fragments are not included in each of the plurality of sealing portions.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein slurry including at least the plurality of metal particles or metal fragments, powder of bonding material, and dispersion medium is introduced into the respective selected cells.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dispersion medium of the slurry flows into one or more adjacent cells at least through a cell-wall of the selected cell such that a solid content accumulates inside the selected cell.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said forming a plurality of sealing portions at the first end and/or the second end comprises:

introducing a clay into the selected cell through an aperture formed in a cover placed on a terminal surface of the ceramic base body; and

drying the ceramic base body.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein first and second covers are placed onto respective terminal surfaces at the first and second ends, the slurry is introduced into the selected cell through an aperture formed in the first cover, and the introducing of the slurry ends when the slurry flows out of the selected cell via an aperture formed in the second cover.