Abstract: A shaped decorative article comprising a rigid body of a densified mixture of particulate material and a binder, the body having a plurality of elongated ridges projecting from the outer surface thereof which are separated from each other by valleys, whereas the inner surface of the body forms a plurality of elongated cavities respectively aligned in longitudinal direction with the ridges, each of the ridges has a pair of side faces including an angle with each other and terminating in a tip of rounded cross section constituting the edge of the respective ridge and each of the cavities having an inner end adjacent the tip of the respective ridge. The wall thickness of the body gradually increases from the tip of each ridge to the valleys adjacent thereto to reach its maximum at the center of each valley, and the density of the body gradually decreases from the tip of each ridge toward the adjacent valleys.

Abstract: A composite article is obtained by forming a body of a mixture of a fibrous material with a heat-hardening binder, by interposing between the body and a coating layer an intermediate layer having a tear-resistance and stiffness exceeding those of the coating material and impregnated with a resin which softens more slowly than a different resin with which the coating layer is impregnated, and by transforming the assembly of the body with the layers into the final article. During the transformation, the assembly is heated to a temperature at which the binder of the body hardens, and the resin of the intermediate layer softens more slowly than that of the coating layer. The intermediate layer may include asbestos fibers, or it may be a metallic foil or a soda craft paper.

Abstract: A mass of fibrous material admixed with binder is accommodated in a space of a mold which is at least in part bounded by a surface having profiling in form of depressions and projections. The mass is compressed against the surface, and in particular it is compressed to a greater extent opposite the depressions in the surface than it is opposite the projections thereof.

Abstract: A two-section die is provided in one section with a cavity having an open side, a surface opposite the open side, and an exposed face connecting the open side and the surface and including with the latter a steep angle. The exposed face is provided with steps which extend transversely of the direction of movement performed by the second or male section of the die which is movable into the cavity for compressing a flowable mixture of ligno-cellulose particles and binder material placed into the cavity, and which has faces and surfaces juxtaposed with the respective face and surface of the cavity so as to compress between them the mixture; the pourable mixture is retarded against displacement in direction towards the surface during such movement, due to the presence of the steps.

Abstract: A two-section die is provided, one section with a cavity having an open side, a surface opposite the open side, and an exposed face connecting the open side and the surface and including with the latter a steep angle. The exposed face is provided with steps which extend transversely of the direction of movement of the second or male section of the die, which is movable into the cavity for compressing a mixture of ligno-cellulose particles and binder material therein, and which has face and surface juxtaposable with the respective face and surface of the cavity so as to permit compression of the mixture.