Disclosed are thermoset/thermoplastic composites that include a thermoset component directly or indirectly bonded to a thermoplastic component via a crosslinked binding layer between the two. The crosslinked binding layer is bonded to the thermoplastic component via epoxy linkages and is either directly or indirectly bonded to the thermoset component via epoxy linkages. The composite can be a laminate and can provide a route for addition of a thermoplastic implant to a thermoset structure.

A device for reinforcing, sealing or insulating a structural element in a motor vehicle includes a support having a clip for pre-fixing the device in the structural element. The clip includes a base and two flexible wings arranged on the base. The device furthermore includes an adhesive for adhesively bonding the support in the structural element. The device furthermore includes an insertion element, which can be inserted in such a way into an interspace between the base and the wings of the clip when the device is pre-fixed on the structural element by the clip that the flexible wings are restricted in their freedom of movement.

Provided is a mountain-shaped structure material being excellent in stiffness and lightness. The present invention is a structure material including a resin, reinforced fibers and voids. The structure material has a specific bending stiffness represented as Ec.sup.1/3.Math..sup.1 being 2.5 or more where a bending modulus is Ec and a density is . The structure material has a mountain shape.

A composite blade includes a composite blade body including reinforced fibers and resin; a metal layer provided on an outer side of a leading edge section including a leading edge that is a part of the composite blade body on an upstream side of an air stream, the metal layer having a thickness of equal to or larger than 5 micrometers and equal to or smaller than 100 micrometers; an adhesive layer provided between the composite blade body and the metal layer to bond the metal layer to the composite blade body; and an electric insulating layer provided in contact with a surface of the leading edge section of the composite blade body, the surface being on the side on which the metal layer is provided, the electric insulating layer having an electric insulating property.

A composite blade includes a composite blade body including reinforced fibers and resin; a metal layer provided on an outer side of a leading edge section including a leading edge that is a part of the composite blade body on an upstream side of an air stream, the metal layer having a thickness of equal to or larger than 5 micrometers and equal to or smaller than 100 micrometers; an adhesive layer provided between the composite blade body and the metal layer to bond the metal layer to the composite blade body; and an electric insulating layer provided in contact with a surface of the leading edge section of the composite blade body, the surface being on the side on which the metal layer is provided, the electric insulating layer having an electric insulating property.

A method of joining workpieces includes the steps of bringing a first workpiece and a second workpiece together, induction heating a susceptor material, and pressing the workpieces together. Each workpiece may include a thermoplastic material, and the workpieces are brought together at a joint interface so that a protrusion of the first workpiece is aligned with a receptacle of the second workpiece. The susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece during heating such that the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece softens. The step of pressing is performed while the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece is softened, thereby reshaping the first workpiece where the susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece. The protrusion is deformed to form an interlock with the receptacle at the joint interface.

A method of joining workpieces includes the steps of bringing a first workpiece and a second workpiece together, induction heating a susceptor material, and pressing the workpieces together. Each workpiece may include a thermoplastic material, and the workpieces are brought together at a joint interface so that a protrusion of the first workpiece is aligned with a receptacle of the second workpiece. The susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece during heating such that the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece softens. The step of pressing is performed while the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece is softened, thereby reshaping the first workpiece where the susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece. The protrusion is deformed to form an interlock with the receptacle at the joint interface.

A composite of metal and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic according to the present invention comprising a predetermined metal member, a resin layer positioned at a surface of at least part of the metal member and containing an inorganic filler having a thermal conductivity of 20 W/(m.Math.K) or more, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic positioned on the resin layer and containing a predetermined matrix resin and carbon reinforcing fiber present in the matrix resin, the carbon reinforcing fiber being at least one of pitch-based carbon reinforcing fiber having a thermal conductivity of 180 to 900 W/(m.Math.K) in range or PAN-based carbon reinforcing fiber having a thermal conductivity of 100 to 200 W/(m.Math.K) in range, a content of the inorganic filler in the resin layer being 10 to 45 vol % in range with respect to a total volume of the resin layer, a number density of the inorganic filler present in a region of a width X m from an interface of the resin layer and the carbon fiber reinforced plastic in a direction of the resin layer being 300/mm.sup.2 or more, where X m is an average particle size of the inorganic filler.

Conductively coated fastening systems are disclosed herein. An apparatus includes a fastening system and a structural assembly. The structural assembly comprises a first structural element made of an electrically conductive fiber reinforced plastic and a second structural element. The first structural element comprises a first hole and the second structural element comprises a second hole. The first and second holes are separately pre-formed prior to assembly of the structural assembly. The structural assembly further comprises an electrically conductive gap filler applied to a first structural element sidewall of the first hole of the first structural element. The fastening system comprises a fastener comprising a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank is configured to be inserted into the first hole and the second hole.

Conductively coated fastening systems are disclosed herein. An apparatus includes a fastening system and a structural assembly. The structural assembly comprises a first structural element made of an electrically conductive fiber reinforced plastic and a second structural element. The first structural element comprises a first hole and the second structural element comprises a second hole. The first and second holes are separately pre-formed prior to assembly of the structural assembly. The structural assembly further comprises an electrically conductive gap filler applied to a first structural element sidewall of the first hole of the first structural element. The fastening system comprises a fastener comprising a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank is configured to be inserted into the first hole and the second hole.