Experimental Estimation of Thermal Durability in Ceramic Catalyst Supports for Passenger Car

Ceramic honeycomb structures have performed successfully as catalyst supports for meeting hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrous emissions standards for gasoline-powered vehicles. Three-way catalyst converter has to withstand high temperature and thermal stress due to pressure fluctuations and vibrations. Thermal stress constitutes a major portion of the total stress which the ceramic catalyst support experiences in service. In this study, temperature distribution was measured at ceramic catalyst supports. Thermal durability was evaluated by power series dynamic fatigue damage model. Radial temperature gradient was higher than axial temperature gradient. Thermal stresses depended on direction of elastic modulus. Axial stresses are higher than tangential stresses. Tangential and axial stresses remained below thermal fatigue threshold in all engine operation ranges.