an apparatus and method for stiffening an wet extruded ceramic body for improved handling prior to drying and firing . the ceramic body is formed from a plastically deformable material including inorganic raw materials , and organics , such as a binder having a thermal gel point . as the ceramic body log exits the extruder die it is passed through a microwave energy field to be heated to above the gelling point of the organic binder . the ceramic body then stiffens and can be easily handled without deformation .