Corning's New Catalytic Converter Cuts Emissions by 70%

Corning Inc.’s new 900/2 catalytic converter enables car manufacturers to reduce emissions by as much as 70 percent over current national standards, allowing them to meet the U.S. Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (Super ULEV) standards, which begin in 2004.

Automobile manufacturers may begin using it as early as this fall to reduce fleet-average emissions of automobiles, trucks and sport-utility vehicles. A substrate coated with a precious-metal catalyst is positioned at the core of the catalytic converter. Untreated exhaust gas passes through the substrate, where it reacts with the catalyst and is converted to harmless gases and water vapor.