Method of molding an article

A method of molding an article capable of enduring temperatures of at least 1250.degree. F. without deformation or deterioration composed of a compact mixture of fibers capable of enduring temperatures of at least 1250.degree. F. comprising

• cutting the fibers into lengths of not more than one eighth of an inch;
• rapidly mixing the cut fibers with a liquid to form a pool of slurry;
• providing a flexible mold having a flat planar bottom with an article-forming cavity opening along the bottom of the flexible mold;
• providing a suction chamber having a plurality of entry ports for the flow of slurry into the mold cavity, an exit port for the flow of water from the slurry within the cavity and a perforated plate which prevents the flow of fibers from the cavity;
• coupling the flexible mold to the suction chamber so that the article-forming cavity will receive slurry from the chamber's entry ports and expel water through the exit port;
• submersing the suction chamber and flexible mold into the pool of slurry;
• creating a vacuum within the suction chamber to cause slurry to flow into the article-forming cavity and expel water from the cavity thereby to form within the cavity an article of tightly compacted fibers;
• removing the suction chamber and flexible mold from the pool of slurry;
• uncoupling the mold from the suction chamber;
• and
• flexing the flexible mold to cause the molded article to drop out of the bottom of the mold.