SYNTHETIC WOOD

1350990 Moulding plastics articles having a wood grain surface; laminates INMONT CORP 3 May 1971 [4 May 1970] 12681/71 Headings B5A and B5N A method of producing plastics articles having a moulded imitation wood grain surface comprises casting a vinyl plastisol or an unsaturated polyester resin in a silicone rubber mould; the mould is produced using a natural wood surface which is first cleaned by scrubbing with a soft wire brush, sanding, and air blasting to remove loose material from the wood. The mould is wet out before casting by wiping over with either the resin to be cast, or, in the case of polyester, with the cross linking monomer or a dilute solution of the resin in the monomer. The moulded surface may be finished by polishing and/or staining operations, and in some cases an offset print of the wood surface used to make the mould is applied to the moulded surface to give the correct colour variation. The moulded article may be a sheet in which case it may be laminated, e.g. by use of a neoprene rubberphenolic resin contact adhesive to a rigid support of hardboard, chipboard or plywood. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,151,053.