The invention relates to polycarbonates with extremely low residual levels of volatile constituents and thermal degradation products, and also improved optical properties, especially Yellowness Index (YI) and good thermal stability, from solvent-containing polymer melts. The invention further relates to an apparatus and a process for preparing these polycarbonates with the aid of a devolatilizing extruder with at least three devolatilizing zones, and zones for introducing entraining agent into dispersion are present upstream of at least three devolatilizing zones.

A filter element (20) includes individual components (2, 4, 8), such as a filter medium (8) as one component and further filter element components (2, 4), of which at least one component (4) is made of a material that is at least partially transparent to laser light and at least one further component (2), in the manner of a barrier layer, is made of a material that is at least partially opaque to laser light to perform a transmission welding method by laser light for connecting associable components to each other. At least some of the components of the filter element that are exposed to the laser light during the transmission welding method are at least partially electrically conductive.

A filter element (20) includes individual components (2, 4, 8), such as a filter medium (8) as one component and further filter element components (2, 4), of which at least one component (4) is made of a material that is at least partially transparent to laser light and at least one further component (2), in the manner of a barrier layer, is made of a material that is at least partially opaque to laser light to perform a transmission welding method by laser light for connecting associable components to each other. At least some of the components of the filter element that are exposed to the laser light during the transmission welding method are at least partially electrically conductive.

A multi-layer film having excellent surface hardness and transparency, a small heat shrinkage factor and such high brittleness that it is easily trimmed after decorative molding. The multi-layer film comprises a layer (layer A) which contains a polycarbonate resin having a viscosity average molecular weight of 13,000 or more to less than 20,000 and layers (layer B-1 and layer B-2) which contain an acrylic resin and are formed on both sides of the layer A, respectively, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layer film is 50 to 200 μm, and the thickness of the layer A accounts for 5 to 30 $ of the total thickness.

A process, for joining workpieces using hybrid mechanical connector-resistance welding. The process in some embodiments includes introducing a conductive fluid to an interface between the workpieces. The process also includes inserting at least one mechanical conductive connector into at least one of the workpieces so that the connector reaches the interface having the conductive fluid therein. The process in some embodiments includes further applying energy for welding to the at least one mechanical conductive connector so that the energy passes, through the connector, to the conductive fluid and heat is generated in the workpieces at the interface, thereby melting the workpieces and forming a weld joint connecting the workpieces.

A process, for joining workpieces using hybrid mechanical connector-resistance welding. The process in some embodiments includes introducing a conductive fluid to an interface between the workpieces. The process also includes inserting at least one mechanical conductive connector into at least one of the workpieces so that the connector reaches the interface having the conductive fluid therein. The process in some embodiments includes further applying energy for welding to the at least one mechanical conductive connector so that the energy passes, through the connector, to the conductive fluid and heat is generated in the workpieces at the interface, thereby melting the workpieces and forming a weld joint connecting the workpieces.

A laminate film manufacturing method is capable of preventing thickness unevenness of a cured layer and preventing wrinkling of the entire laminate film. A laminate film is manufactured by applying a coating solution including an active radiation curable resin to a surface of a first film that is continuously transported in an application part to form a coated film in a lamination part, laminating a second film that is continuously transported on the coated film to sandwich the coated film between the first film and the second film, and in a state in which the coated film is sandwiched between the first film and the second film, winding the first film around a backup roller and irradiating the coated film with infrared rays from an ultraviolet irradiation device while continuously transporting the first film to cure the coated film in a curing part so as to form a cured layer.

A laminate film manufacturing method is capable of preventing thickness unevenness of a cured layer and preventing wrinkling of the entire laminate film. A laminate film is manufactured by applying a coating solution including an active radiation curable resin to a surface of a first film that is continuously transported in an application part to form a coated film in a lamination part, laminating a second film that is continuously transported on the coated film to sandwich the coated film between the first film and the second film, and in a state in which the coated film is sandwiched between the first film and the second film, winding the first film around a backup roller and irradiating the coated film with infrared rays from an ultraviolet irradiation device while continuously transporting the first film to cure the coated film in a curing part so as to form a cured layer.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.