Tough ceramic converter.(Corning Inc. designs catalytic converter)(Brief Article)

Corning Inc. has developed a small ceramic catalytic converter for use close to the engine, where it will reduce cold-start emissions. Corning's "pre-converter" is designed to withstand the high temperature, high-vibration environments in the engine compartment so it can be used to meet low emissions and ultra-low vehicle emissions standards in the U.S. and Europe. The development refutes claims by proponents of metal substrate converters (see WAW - Feb. '95, p. 55) that ceramics can't survive in such applications.