METHOD FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOLDED PRODUCT COMPRISING VEGETABLE FIBER AND METAL MOLD USED THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a three-dimensional molded product comprising vegetable fibers by which molding can readily be carried out with a high production efficiency by dry molding without using a pulp slurry prepared with water in a molding step. SOLUTION: This method for producing the three-dimensional molded product comprising the vegetable fibers is carried out as follows. A mat 1 composed of a mixture comprising the vegetable fibers as a main raw material and obtained by mixing the vegetable fibers with a thermoplastic resin thermally fusible to the fibers is compressed with a pair of female and male pressing metal molds 2 and 3 and intersecting points of the mutual fibers are at least partially bonded to retain the shape through the thermoplastic resin by heat treatment. In the method, the mat 1 comprising the vegetable fibers as the main raw material is press molded while making the mat 1 follow the uneven shape of the pressing metal molds 2 and 3.