A heat stake for a plastic part includes a body having a proximal end, a flared section and a distal end. The proximal end has a first cross-sectional area A.sub.1 and the flared section has a second cross-sectional area A.sub.2 where A.sub.1<A.sub.2. The distal end has a dual taper. That plastic part incorporating the heat stake is also disclosed.

This film includes a first resin layer formed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and a second resin layer formed of a medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) made to be adjacent to each other by co-extrusion, in which the first resin layer and the second resin layer are stretched in the same direction. In addition, the film may include a first surface layer formed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), an intermediate layer formed of a medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), and a second surface layer formed of a medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) made to be adjacent to each other in this order by co-extrusion, and the first surface layer, the intermediate layer and the second surface layer are stretched in the same direction.

An object of the invention is to provide a blow-molded foam which has homogeneous foamed cells in size, is light in weight, and is excellent in surface smoothness, and a process for producing the same. The invention is directed to a blow-molded foam 1 having a wall portion formed in such a manner that a thermoplastic resin containing a foaming agent mixed therewith is subjected to blow molding. Herein, the wall portion has a closed cell structure in which a plurality of foamed cells are contained. The wall portion has an expansion ratio of not less than 2.0 times. The wall portion has an outer face having a center-line average surface roughness Ra of less than 9.0 m. The foamed cell has a cell diameter having a standard deviation of less than 40 m in a thickness direction of the wall portion.

While naturally suctioning air between a first thermoplastic resin sheet and a second thermoplastic resin sheet from a fluid passage formed in a first thermoplastic resin sheet, the first thermoplastic resin sheet is subjected to vacuum-molding by a first vacuum molding die, a first shaping section is formed in the first thermoplastic resin sheet by a molded section of the first vacuum molding die, the second thermoplastic resin sheet is subjected to vacuum-molding by a second vacuum molding die, a second shaping section is formed in the second thermoplastic resin sheet by the molded section of the second vacuum molding die, and a hollow section is defined between the first thermoplastic resin sheet and the second thermoplastic resin sheet by the first shaping section and the second shaping section.

A method for molding fiber-reinforced plastic. A core is formed in a desired shape by accommodating, in a flexible bag, a grain group containing plurality of grains. The core is placed inside a prepreg containing resin and fibers, and the prepreg, in which the core is housed is placed in a molding die and compression molded. When doing so, the grain group contains first and second grains (a,b) that satisfy the equation (1). (1) 1.1(Da/Db)2.0 In the equation Da is the grain diameter of the grains (a), and Db is the grain diameter of the grain (b). When using a molding die to mold a molded article having a cavity, the above mentioned molding method enables an increase in the internal pressure of the core in order to change the peripheral surface area of the core, without using a pressurized gas and/or pressurized liquid.

An axle housing for a vehicle is provided. The axle housing includes a polymeric composite body. The polymeric composite body includes a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. The polymeric composite body has a modulus of greater than or equal to about 10 GPa. The polymeric composite body defines an inner surface and at least one bearing region. The inner surface defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity is configured to receive an internal gear set including a bearing. The at least one bearing region includes a bore. The at least one bearing region is configured to be disposed around the bearing of the internal gear set. The axle housing may unibody, such that a body portion is free of joints or seams, or it may include multiple pieces. Methods of manufacturing composite axle housings are also provided.

A bottle (1) comprising an envelop (2) defining a housing, said bottle being molded from at least one thermoplastic polymer of at least one FuranDiCarboxylic Acid (FDCA) monomer, preferably 2,5-FuranDiCarboxylic Acid (2,5-FDCA) monomer, and at least one diol monomer, preferably monoethylene glycol (MEG) monomer, wherein the envelop is provided with at least one imprint (10a, 10b).

Methods and apparatus for vacuum forming a meat tray using a slurry. The slurry comprises: a moisture barrier comprising AKD in the range of about 4% by weight; a fiber base comprising bagasse; and an oil barrier comprising a water-based emulsion in the range of about 1.5% by weight.

A flow cell and a method for connecting components of a microfluidic flow cell, in particular for integrating component parts into a carrier structure of the flow cell, in which a gap is formed between the components to be connected. The gap is filled with a solvent. The material of at least one component bordering the gap dissolves in the solvent and the material completely fills the width of the gap and partially fills the height thereof after evaporation of the solvent.

A method and apparatus for the formation of double-walled containers with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, stretch-blow moulded as single bodies out of thermoplastic material, and suitable for mass-production. A thermoplastic tubular blank is formed and then heat-conditioned. The heat-conditioned tubular blank is then mechanically stretched longitudinally and blow-formed outwards by gas pressure to conformingly and stretchingly assume the tubular blank to the shape of a first dual-container shaped mould cavity set in order to form a stretch-blow moulded first container integrally connected to a second container, with both containers extending in opposite directions. Next, additional heat-conditioning is applied to further heat-condition as necessary the stretch-blow moulded second container and if deemed an advantage, at least part of the first container. Then at least one profiled inversion piston and a second dual-container shaped mould cavity set are provided along with one or more wall stability devices applied to at least part of the wall surface(s) of either or both of the two integrally connected stretch-blow moulded containers, such that the second container side wall(s) may be inverted at least partially inside-out, while at the same time the second container bottom wall at least substantially does not invert, in order for the second container to become a substantially mirror-image inverted second container extending in the same direction as the first container, and an air gap is formed between the first container and second container.