Method of molding a composition comprising cork granules and a binder

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF MOLDING AN ARTICLE FROM A MASS COMPRISING CORK GRANULES AND A HEAT-SENSITIVE BINDER, THE STEPS COMPRISING DISPOSING A MASS OF CORK GRANULES COATED WITH A HEAT-SENSITIVE BINDER WITHIN A MOLD, COMPRESSING THE MASS WITHIN THE MOLD WITH THE MAJOR COMPRESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED IN ONE DIRECTION, HEATING SAID HEATSENSITIVE BINDER TO ELEVATE THE SAME TO ACTIVATION TEMPERATURE, MAINTAINING THE MASS WITHIN THE MOLD SUBSEQUENT TO HEATING UNTIL PARTIAL STRESS RELAXATION OF THE CORK GRANULES HAS OCCURED, REMOVING THE HEATED FORMED ARTICLE FROM THE MOLD PRIOR TO COMPLETE STRESS RELAXATION OF THE CORK GRANULES, PRIOR TO ANY RE-EXPANSION OF SAID GRANULES WHICH WOULD RESULT IN RUPTURE OF SAID ARTICLE PLACING SAID ARTICLE UNDER APPLIED COMPRESSION, COOLING SAID RECOMPRESSES ARTICLE SO THAT THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT WITHIN THE MASS IS SUCH THAT THE ISOTHERMAL LINES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF APPLIED COMPRESSION, MAINTAINING SAID FORMED ARTICLE UNDER CONFINEMENT UNTIL SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE STRESS RELAXATION OF THE CORK GRANULES HAS BEEN EFFECTED, AND THEREAFTER REMOVING THE ARTICLE FROM CONFINEMENT.