Method of making refractory fiber products

The method of making a ceramic produce comprising the steps of mixing a mass of ceramic material limited to the class consisting of ceramic fibers and granulated alumina and including ceramic fibers with a mass of water and a deflocculent to form a mixture, the fibers in the mixture having average lengths less than one-fourth inch and substantially uniform cross sections, the mixing continuing until the ceramic fibers are substantially uniformly distributed throughout the mixture and oriented substantially randomly with respect to each other the ratio of water to ceramic material int eh mixture being less than required to provide a mixture consistency which will flow, thereafter placing the mixture into the recess of a mold constituted of liquid absorbent material, thereafter subjecting the mold to vibration to cause the mixture to flow into contact with the mold and to eliminate voids in the mixture, thereafter, maintaining the mold and mixture at rest for a period of time sufficient to allow a large portion of the water from the mixture to become absorbed in the mold to permit the mixture remnant remaining in the recess to harden, thereafter removing the mixture remnant from the mold, and thereafter heating the mixture remnant to sinter abutting fibers to each other.