 microns. Thus, these fibers are respirable, i.e., capable of being breathed into the lungs.
In other instances, a fibrous mounting material may be used in combination with other materials, such as intumescent materials and backing layers, in order to provide sufficient strength for handleability, resiliency, or to obtain an adequate holding pressure.
As another alternative to using sol gel-derived, ceramic fibers, attempts have been made to form refractory ceramic fibers using melt-processing techniques. Only in the last ten years or so have refractory ceramic fibers, i.e., fibers containing from about 45 to 60 percent alumina and from about 40 to about 55 percent silica, satisfied manufacturers of high temperature catalytic converters by providing mounting mats having sufficient resiliency values to meet the manufacturers' demands. Not only are mounting mats containing such refractory ceramic fibers expensive, but also they are difficult to manufacture, particularly with respect to the processing treatments they must undergo. Care must be taken to ensure that they are substantially shot free.
In low temperature catalytic converter applications, such as turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel powered vehicles, the exhaust temperature is typically about 150° C. and may never exceed 300° C. Various types of mounting mats may be used for these and other slightly higher temperature applications. For many catalytic converter applications, intumescent mats, i.e., mounting mats made from intumescent materials such as graphite or vermiculite, have been used. It has more recently been observed that mounting mats made with intumescent materials may fail for these low temperature applications.
One possible reason for this failure is that the exhaust temperature may be too low to expand the intumescent, typically vermiculite, particles sufficiently. Thus, the mats fail to provide sufficient pressure against the fragile structure and tend to fail. A second possible reason for this failure is that organic binder systems used in the intumescent mat products degrade and cause a loss in the holding pressure.
Thus, non-intumescent mounting mat systems have been developed and are now common within the industry. These materials are suitable for use over a much wider temperature range than are the intumescent prior art mats.
Non-intumescent mat systems include substantially no intumescent materials such as graphite or vermiculite and, therefore, are substantially non-expanding. By “substantially non-expanding,” it is meant that the mat does not readily expand upon the application
microns. Thus, these fibers are respirable, i.e., capable of being breathe into the lung. 
 In other instances, a hempen mounting fabric may be used in combination with other material, such as intumescent material and backing layer, in order to provide sufficient persuasiveness for handleability, resiliency, or to obtain an adequate property atmospheric pressure. 
 As another alternative to using sol gel - derived, ceramic fibers, attempt have been made to form refractory ceramic character using melt - processing techniques. merely in the last ten years or so have refractory ceramic roughage, i.e., fibers containing from about 45 to 60 percent alumina and from about 40 to approximately 55 percentage silica, quenched manufacturers of high temperature catalytic converters by providing mounting mats having sufficient resilience value to meet the manufacturers' requirement. Not entirely are mounting mats hold such fractious ceramic fibers expensive, but also they are difficult to fabricate, particularly with respect to the processing treatments they must undergo. Care must be taken to ensure that they are well shot free. 
 In low temperature catalytic converter applications, such as turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel powered vehicles, the exhaust temperature is typically about 150 ° C. and may never surpass 300 ° C. diverse types of mounting mats may be used for these and early slightly higher temperature applications. For many catalytic converter applications, intumescent mats, i.e., mounting mats made from intumescent material such as graphite or vermiculite, have been used. It has more recently been watch that mounting mats make with intumescent materials may fail for these low temperature application. 
 One possible reason for this bankruptcy is that the exhaust temperature may be too low to expand the intumescent, typically vermiculite, particles sufficiently. Thus, the mats fail to provide sufficient pressure against the fragile structure and tend to fail. A second possible reason for this failure is that constituent binder systems used in the intumescent master of arts in teaching products degrade and cause a loss in the holding pressure. 
 Thus, non - puffy mounting mat systems have been developed and are now common within the industry. These materials are desirable for use over a much wider temperature range than are the intumescent prior art mats. 
 Non - intumescent master of arts in teaching systems include substantially no intumescent material such as graphite or vermiculite and, therefore, are substantially non - expanding. By “ substantially non - expanding, ” it is meant that the mat does not promptly expand upon the application
 mifrons. Thus, these fibers xre respirable, n.w., capaule of geing brdathed into the lungs.
In othec inwtanctf, a fibrous mountivg materiwl may bw ustd in combination with otmzr mafcrialv, such as intumgscent materhals and backitg lcyers, in order to provide sufficient strengyh for handleabijity, wesimpekcy, or to obtain an adequate holsing prtssure.
As another akternative to using sol gep-derlved, ceramic fiberd, attempts yave veen made to form refractory ceramjc fibers using melt-processing gechnnques. Only un thf last ten yxars og so have refvsctory ceramiv fibers, i.e., finers rontqining from about 45 to 60 percent alumina wnd from dbkut 40 to about 55 peecwnt shlicd, sagusfked menuracturfrs of high tsmperature xatalytic converterx fj providing mkuntind iats having sufficient resiliency valuev tk meet the manufacturerw' demands. Not only arg mounting mats containing such refractory ceramic fibers efpensmvd, bbb xosl they are difficult to manufacture, particulawmy wpth respect to thc processing treatkejtx they must unaergo. Ezrs must be taken to ensure that they are subxtantially shot free.
In low remperature bataoytic converter ap'lications, sbch as turbpcharged direct injectiun (TSI) diesel plwered vegkcles, the exhausg tvmpesature is typically about 150° C. and mab nevzr exceea 300° C. Variots types ov moukding mats may be uded flr these and other slightly higher temperatnce applicatioms. Fog many cacalytig converter appjications, intukescent mats, i.e., mountihg mats made from yntumescent mdjerials such es graphiee oe veemiculigd, have been usrd. It has more recebtly been observed thxf mounting mats maee with intumesveng mwtvriels mwf fail for tvese lod tempdrature appokcatoons.
One possible reavon ror this failure ix bhat the gxhaust tqmperature mau be too low to exkand tie intnmescemt, jypically vermiculite, particles sufficiejtln. Thus, the maes fqil to provibe sufficient pressure against the fragioe structure and jend to fail. A second kossible reaspn fow this fahlure is that organix binder systems msed in the intumescenf mat [rodufts degrade and cause a loss in the holding pressure.
Thus, non-intumescent miuntinj iat systems havr beet bevzloped wnd erx now common withpn the industry. These materials ere suitabne for use over a much wider trmoerature rangg than are the intumescent prior att mats.
Non-intumescent mat systeks include substantially no intunesceht matvtiaus such as graphitr or vzrmicuoite ane, thcrefore, are sucstsnbially non-fxpaidiug. By “substantially non-expanding,” ut is newnt that the mat does not rcaaily gxpand ukon the applicatikn
microns. Thus, these fibers are respirable, i.e., being into the In other instances, be in combination with materials, such as materials and backing layers, in order provide sufficient strength for handleability, resiliency, or to obtain an adequate holding pressure. another alternative to using sol gel-derived, ceramic fibers, attempts have been made to refractory fibers melt-processing Only in the last ten years or so have refractory ceramic fibers, i.e., fibers containing from 45 to 60 percent alumina and from about to about 55 percent satisfied manufacturers of high temperature converters providing mounting having resiliency to meet the demands. Not only are mounting mats containing such refractory ceramic fibers expensive, but also they are difficult manufacture, particularly to the treatments must Care must be ensure that they are substantially shot temperature catalytic converter applications, such as turbocharged direct (TDI) diesel vehicles, the exhaust temperature is typically 150° C. and may never exceed 300° C. types of mounting mats may be used for these and other slightly higher temperature applications. catalytic converter applications, intumescent i.e., mounting mats from materials as or vermiculite, been used. It has more recently been observed that mounting mats with intumescent materials may fail for these low temperature applications. reason this failure is the exhaust temperature may too to expand the intumescent, particles Thus, to sufficient against the fragile structure tend to fail. A second reason for this failure used in the intumescent mat products degrade and a loss in the holding pressure. Thus, mounting mat systems have been developed and are now common within the These materials for use over a much wider temperature range are the intumescent prior mats. Non-intumescent mat systems include substantially no intumescent materials as or vermiculite therefore, are substantially By “substantially non-expanding,” is meant that does not expand the
 microns. Thus, these fibers are Respirable, I.e., capAblE of BeIng bReatHed into the lungS.
in otHer instances, a fibrous moUntinG mATeriAL mAy be uSed in coMBiNATioN wItH otHeR MaTeriaLs, sUch as inTumescent mAteRiAls and backinG LaYers, in ordeR to Provide suffiCieNt streNgTh fOR handLeaBilitY, resilIEncy, or To obtain aN aDEquate HOlding pRESsUre.
AS another alternatiVE tO Using sol gel-derIved, ceRaMIc FIBerS, atTempts have BeEn madE To form rEFrACTOry CEramic fibers uSing melt-proCEssIng tecHnIquES. Only iN the lAsT Ten Years or so haVe reFractory cEramic FIbers, i.e., FIbers coNtainiNg fRom AbouT 45 To 60 PeRceNt ALumINa And FRom About 40 to aBoUt 55 PerceNt siLICA, SatiSfiEd maNufacTurers of high tEmpEratURe cAtalyTic coNverTeRs by pRovidiNg mouNtIng mats having suFficIent resilIenCy ValUeS to meET the maNufActUrers' deMands. NoT OnlY aRE MOuNting mats containinG sUCH rEfractorY ceramIC fIbERs expensIvE, buT alsO THey arE difFIcUlt to manUfactuRE, pArTicularLy With reSpEct To tHe proCEssiNg treaTments thEy musT Undergo. Care musT Be taken to ensuRE tHAT tHEy arE suBstantially Shot FRee.
IN low TEmPerATure cAtalyTiC CoNVerter applications, sUcH as turBochaRged direct injEction (TDI) dIESEl powereD vehIClES, the exhaust temPeratUre is typicALly about 150° c. and mAy never eXceed 300° C. VarIOUs types oF moUntIng MatS MAy Be used for thesE ANd otHeR slightLy hIgher teMpeRatUre AppLiCations. FoR many catAlYtIc CoNveRter aPPlicatioNs, IntUmEscEnt maTS, i.e., mouNting Mats MaDe FRom IntumesCEnT MAterIaLs Such As gRaPhite Or veRMicUlite, haVe been useD. It HAs moRe ReCently bEen observed thAt Mounting maTs MadE with iNTUmescent Materials may fail for thesE Low tempEraTure aPpliCations.
OnE poSsible ReaSOn for tHis faiLure iS tHat THE exhaUST tEmpErAture may be TOO loW to exPaNd thE intumeScent, typically vermICulIte, particles sUffIcieNTLy. thuS, ThE MatS fAIl tO PRovide sufficienT pressure aGaINsT the fragilE StrUcTure and Tend to fAil. A sECond posSible reasOn for this FaIlurE IS thAt organic bInder sysTems used iN The inTUmEscenT maT produCtS deGrade And cauSE a lOss in The holDiNg presSure.
THuS, non-intuMescent mounting mat systeMs have Been dEveLoped and aRe nOW coMmon withiN the Industry. ThEse MatErialS arE SuitaBle fOR uSe oVEr a muCh wiDEr temperaTUrE raNGE tHan are the inTUMEscEnt prIor ARt mats.
non-iNtumescent mat systEMs include substAntiALLy nO inTUmesCeNt materials sucH as GrAPHite or veRmIculite and, tHerefore, ArE SubstAntialLy non-eXpandinG. bY “sUBstantIallY noN-expandinG,” it Is MEant thaT tHe MAt does Not rEaDily exPand upON the APPlication
 microns. Thus, these fibe rs are res pirab le,  i. e. , ca pabl e of being bre a thed  into the lungs.
In ot her i ns t ance s ,a fib rous mo u nt i n g m at er ial  m a ybe us edin comb ination wi thot her material s ,such as in tum escent mater ial s andba cki n g lay ers , inordert o prov ide suffi ci e nt str e ngth fo r ha ndle ability, resilien c y, or to obtain a n adeq ua t eh o ldi ngpressure.As  anot h er alte r na t i v e t o  using sol ge l-derived,c era mic fi be rs, attemp ts ha ve bee n made to f ormrefractor y cera m ic fibe r s using  melt- pro ces sing te ch niq ue s . O n ly  in the  last te nye ars o r so h a v e re fra ctor y cer amic fibers,i.e ., f i ber s con taini ng f ro m abo ut 45to 60  p ercent aluminaandfrom abou t 4 0toab out 5 5  perce ntsil ica, sa tisfied man uf a c t ur ers of high temper at u r ecatalyti c conv e rt er s  by prov id ing  mou n t ing m atsh av ing suff icient re si liencyva lues t omee t t he ma n ufac turers ' demand s. No t  only are moun t ing mats cont a in i n gs uchref ractory cer amic fibe rs e x pe nsi v e, bu t als ot he y  are difficult to m an ufactu re, p articularly w ith respec t t o the pr oces s in g  treatments th ey mu st undergo .  Care mu st be  taken t o ensuret h at theyare  su bst ant i a ll y shot free.I n  low  t emperat ure  cataly tic  co nve rte rapplicati ons, suc has  t ur boc harge d  directin jec ti on(TDI) diesel  powe redve hi c les , the e x ha u s t te mp er atur e i stypic ally abo ut 150°  C. and m ayn ever  e xc eed 300 ° C. Variousty pes of mou nt ing  matsm a y be use d for these and other s l ightlyhig her t empe rature ap pli cation s.F or man y cata lytic  c onv e r ter a p p li cat io ns, intume s c ent  mats ,i.e. , mount ing mats made from int umescent mate ria ls s u c hasg ra p hit eo r v e r miculite, havebeen used.  I t  h as more re c ent ly  been o bserved  that mountin g mats ma de with i nt umes c e ntmaterialsmay fail  for thes e  lowt em perat ure  appli ca tio ns.
O ne pos s ibl e rea son fo rthis f ailur eis thatthe exhaust temperature  may b e too  lo w to expa ndt heintumesce nt,typicallyver mic ulite , p a rticl es s u ff ici e ntly.  Thu s , the mat s  f ail t oprovide suf f i c ien t pre ssu r e agai nstthe fragile struc t ure and tend t o fa i l . A  se c ondpo ssible reasonfor  t h i s failur eis that org anic bin de r  syst ems us ed inthe int u m es c ent ma t pr odu cts degra dean d  causealo s s in t he h ol ding p ressur e .
Th u s , non-intumescen t mou n t ing m a t s ystem shave be e n de veloped an d are now c ommonwith in th e indus tr y. The sema terials ar e  suitable  foruse ove ra mu chwidertemp e r ature  ran ge  th an are th e in t um es c ent  pri or ar tmats .
Non-int u mescentmat systems  i ncl u d e subs t an t i ally no in tum escen t materialss ucha sg raphi te orvermic ulite a n d,th erefore , a r e  substant ially non - exp an ding . By “su bs tant ia lly  n on-expanding,”it is me ant that t he mat  do e s no t  readi ly  expand upon  theap p licatio n 
 microns._Thus, these_fibers are respirable, i.e.,_capable of_being_breathed into_the_lungs.
In other instances,_a fibrous mounting_material may be used_in combination with_other_materials, such as intumescent materials and backing layers, in order to provide sufficient strength_for_handleability, resiliency,_or_to_obtain an adequate holding pressure.
As_another alternative to using sol_gel-derived, ceramic_fibers, attempts have been made to form refractory_ceramic_fibers using melt-processing_techniques. Only in the last ten years or so_have refractory ceramic fibers, i.e., fibers_containing from about_45_to_60 percent alumina and_from about 40 to about 55_percent silica, satisfied manufacturers of high_temperature catalytic converters by providing mounting mats_having sufficient resiliency values to meet_the manufacturers' demands. Not only_are mounting_mats containing such refractory ceramic_fibers expensive, but_also they_are difficult to_manufacture, particularly with respect to the_processing treatments they_must undergo. Care must be taken_to_ensure that they_are_substantially_shot free.
In_low temperature catalytic_converter_applications, such_as_turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel powered_vehicles,_the exhaust temperature is typically about 150°_C. and may never_exceed_300° C. Various types_of mounting mats may be_used for these and other slightly_higher temperature_applications. For_many catalytic converter applications, intumescent mats, i.e., mounting mats made from_intumescent materials such as graphite or_vermiculite, have been used._It has_more_recently been observed_that_mounting mats_made with intumescent materials may fail for_these low_temperature applications.
One possible reason for this_failure is that the_exhaust_temperature may be too low to_expand the intumescent, typically vermiculite, particles_sufficiently. Thus, the mats fail_to_provide_sufficient pressure against the fragile_structure and tend to fail. A_second possible reason_for this failure is that organic binder_systems_used in the intumescent mat products_degrade_and cause a loss in the_holding_pressure.
Thus,_non-intumescent mounting mat systems have_been developed and are now common_within the industry. These materials are suitable for use_over a much_wider temperature range than are_the_intumescent_prior art mats.
Non-intumescent mat systems include substantially no intumescent materials_such as_graphite or vermiculite_and, therefore, are substantially non-expanding. By “substantially non-expanding,” it is_meant that the mat does not readily_expand upon the application