FIREPLACE ARTICLES COMPRISING NON-WHITE INORGANIC FIBERS AND METHOD OF PREPARATION

摘要

The present invention provides molded fireplace articles comprising a plurality of non-white inorganic fibers that are substantially uniformly coated with a colored metal oxide. The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing molded fireplace articles comprising: providing a plurality of non-white inorganic fibers; mixing the fibers with a binder and a liquid to form a slurry; pouring the slurry into a mold having a desired shape; and forming the slurry into a shaped article. A method of preparing non-white inorganic fibers is also provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a colorant solution formed by dispersing or dissolving a metal compound into a carrier liquid, providing an inorganic fiber, applying the colorant solution to the inorganic fiber to form a colorant coated fiber, and heating the colorant coated fiber to a temperature sufficient to decompose the metal compound to a non-white metal oxide that is substantially uniformly coated on said fibers.