| CPC C04B 35/195 (2013.01) [C04B 35/638 (2013.01); C04B 35/64 (2013.01); C04B 38/0006 (2013.01); C04B 2235/3481 (2013.01); C04B 2235/349 (2013.01); C04B 2235/6021 (2013.01); C04B 2235/6562 (2013.01); C04B 2235/6567 (2013.01); C04B 2235/6584 (2013.01); C04B 2235/661 (2013.01); C04B 2235/95 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method for firing a cordierite-forming green honeycomb body in a kiln, comprising:
heating the green honeycomb body in a first stage from an initial kiln temperature to a first kiln temperature that is from about 300° C. to 400° C. at a first heating rate of at most 100° C./hr, wherein an oxygen concentration during the first stage is greater than 16%;
heating the green honeycomb body in a second stage from the first kiln temperature to a second kiln temperature that is from about 600° C. to 700° C. at a second heating rate of greater than 125° C./hr;
heating the green honeycomb body in a third stage from the second kiln temperature to a third kiln temperature that is from about 800° C. to 900° C. at a third heating rate that is less than or equal to the second heating rate; and
heating the green honeycomb body in a fourth stage from the third kiln temperature to a fourth kiln temperature that is from about 1300° C. to 1450° C. at a fourth heating rate that is less than or equal to the third heating rate.
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