SE365154

A synthetic wood is provided which is an elongated microporous article formed of a plurality of coalesced, foamed resin strands. The strands are in intimate contact with each other, and each has a higher density in its outer surface and lower density in its inner portion. Thus, the cross section of the synthetic wood comprises a frame distributed in a reticulate form. The synthetic wood of the invention is produced by extruding softened thermoplastic resin containing expanding agents into a plurality of expandable strands by passing it through a die at the discharge end of an extruder, said die having a number of apertures and coalescing the strands into a microporous article having a desired cross-sectional area while the strands are still in a softened state, wherein the space in which each individual strand is allowed to expand is restricted to provide each of the strands with a higher density outer surface.