A method and apparatus to treat a dried unfired article comprising a ceramic precursor composition substantially held together by a binder, to be resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing. The method includes depositing a fluid on the article surface, and polymerizing the deposited fluid to form a polymer thin layer on the surface. The fluid may be an aerosol, a vapor, a fog, a mist, a smoke, or combinations thereof. An apparatus to perform the method and an article resistant to binder soluble solvent based processing are also provided. The article can be an unfired honeycomb body that includes a dried composition of ceramic precursor substantially held together by a binder and a layer disposed on a surface of the unfired honeycomb body. The surface to be exposed in the green state to a binder soluble solvent and the layer protects the binder from solubilization by the solvent.