| abstract |
A method for printing a data-carrying mark on a portion of an unfinished ceramic structure, such as the green body of a ceramic honeycomb structure, is disclosed that is capable of producing a mark that maintains legibility even after being fired to temperatures above 1100oC or higher, or even 1300oC or higher. The data-carrying mark is formed from a deposit of colorant solids overlying a portion of the unfinished ceramic structure. The volume of colorant solids per unit area of marked wall portion that is at least twice as much as that required to obtain maximum pre-fired visual contrast between marked and unmarked portions of the structure (i.e., prior to firing). The colorant solids may include one or more of cobalt, nickel, iron, chromium, copper, manganese and titanium, either in metallic or oxide form, and are preferably deposited in particulate form via a high temperature ink composition that prints the data-carrying mark by way of an ink jet print head. The data-carrying mark may be a digital pattern of marked and unmarked wall portions such as a bar code. |