Developers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Dresden have created a new honeycomb structure which will allow Diesel Particulate Filters to be built at varying shapes and at competitive prices.

Working in conjunction with manufacturer CleanDieselCeramics (CDC) and sponsored by Saxony's economics ministry, developers have designed an irregular-shaped, four-cornered honeycomb structure which allows a number of filter geometries to be created, some of which are even close to being cylindrical.

Crucially, this eliminated the need for grinding, which wastes valuable material, is an arduous process and requires expensive machinery.

In addition, the filter surface in the small channels has been enlarged in the new structure as researchers have plumped for a smaller, triangular cross-section.

This affords greater stability and means the filter is less sensitive to lateral pressure.

The production method has been tested at the IKTS and project manager Jorg Adler believes the product is extremely competitive.

"As far as the performance and quality of our new development is concerned, we can hold our own against anything on the market," he commented.

Source:

Clean Diesel Possible With New Diesel Particulate Filter Technology, 13/03/08
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311102319.htm

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