Evaluation of a Stronger Ultra Thin Wall Corning Substrate for Improved Performance

Current trends in automotive emissions control have tended towards reduced mass substrates for improved light-off performance coupled with a reduction in PGM levels. This trend has led to increasingly thinner walls in the substrates and increased open frontal areas, with a potential of reducing the overall mechanical strength of the substrate relative to the thicker walled lower cell density supports.

This change in demand driven technology has also led to developments, at times costly, in the processing of the catalytic converter system. Changes in mat materials, handling technology and coating variables are only a few sources of overall increased system costs.

Corning has introduced the Celcor^® XS™ product to the market which significantly increases the strength of thin and ultra thin walled substrates. A thorough evaluation of these products leads us to believe that the new substrate provides significant potential advantages and benefits to the entire supply chain as well as to the OEMs. The current paper will address some of these evaluations and describe some of the benefits associated with the design utilized.