A method of forming a flexible glass-polymer laminate structure includes heating a polymer layer to an elevated temperature of greater than 20 C. and below a working temperature of a flexible glass substrate adjacent the polymer layer. The flexible glass substrate has a thickness of no more than about 0.3 mm. The flexible glass substrate is shaped with the polymer layer at the elevated temperature. The polymer layer is cooled below the elevated temperature such that the flexible glass-polymer laminate structure maintains a non-planar formation.

Prepreg tows are placed on a substrate having a bend with a curvature extending over a transition region in the substrate. The tows are steered and laid on the substrate in at least a first section and a second section within the transition region, wherein each of the first and second sections has an angular orientation that is less than the curvature of the bend in order to reduce gathering of the tows.

A method and apparatus for forming at least one external annular flange (48 or 49) adjacent one end of a fiber reinforced thermoplastic tube (10) in which the tube (10) is mounted on a mandrel (12) and a first end portion of the tube is clamped in a collar (13) having at least one internal annular cavity (18 or 19) for forming a flange, a second end portion of the tube in the region (R1, R2) of the cavity is heated to soften the thermoplastic, and an axial load (L) is applied to the end of the tube by a piston (24) causing the softened tube to flow into the cavity (18, 19) in the collar (13) to form a flange on the tube.

The present invention provides constructs including a tubular biodegradable polyglycolic acid scaffold, wherein the scaffold may be coated with extracellular matrix proteins and substantially acellular. The constructs can be utilized as an arteriovenous graft, a coronary graft, a peripheral artery bypass conduit, or a urinary conduit. The present invention also provides methods of producing such constructs.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a 3D article (1) by means of 3D printing, the method comprising the steps of: a) printing a 3D structure (1) extending in a first plane and comprising a first surface (4) and a second surface (4) being opposite to the first surface (4); b) cooling the 3D structure (1); c) heating the one of the first and the second surfaces (4, 4) of the 3D structure (1); d) deforming the 3D structure (1) in a second plane deviating from the first plane, such that a 3D article (1) is obtained; c) cooling the 3D article (1).

Provided is a golf club shaft having a lightweight property and exhibiting impact-absorption characteristics to suppress vibration at an impact of a golf ball. A golf club shaft, including a shaft body extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the shaft body is composed of a composite material which has: a first member containing a fiber reinforced plastic; and a second member containing a rubber material and formed to be in direct contact with the first member within at least a part of a region on the first member, and in which the first member and the second member are integrated.

The present invention provides constructs including a tubular biodegradable polyglycolic acid scaffold, wherein the scaffold may be coated with extracellular matrix proteins and substantially acellular. The constructs can be utilized as an arteriovenous graft, a coronary graft, a peripheral artery bypass conduit, or a urinary conduit. The present invention also provides methods of producing such constructs.

A method of forming a flexible glass-polymer laminate structure includes heating a polymer layer to an elevated temperature of greater than 20 C. and below a working temperature of a flexible glass substrate adjacent the polymer layer. The flexible glass substrate has a thickness of no more than about 0.3 mm. The flexible glass substrate is shaped with the polymer layer at the elevated temperature. The polymer layer is cooled below the elevated temperature such that the flexible glass-polymer laminate structure maintains a non-planar formation.

A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures.

An electrochemical cell includes an electrode body which includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode and an outer package which is formed by overlapping a first member and a second member. The outer package includes: a housing portion which houses the electrode body; and a sealing portion which is formed along an outer circumference of the housing portion, by fusing and bending the first member and the second member, at a portion corresponding to the outer circumference of the housing portion.