A method for preparing a part using a rigid tool surface having a shape. The method includes applying a breather sheet comprising gas-permeable material over the rigid tool surface. A vacuum bag is applied over the breather sheet, and a vacuum pressure is applied underneath the vacuum bag to conform the breather sheet and the vacuum bag to the shape of the rigid tool surface. A resin pre-impregnated ply is applied over the vacuum bag, and the part is positioned over the ply.

A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

A zero-Poisson-ratio honeycomb structure and an interlocking assembly manufacturing method thereof are provided, and belong to the field of light structure design and manufacturing. The honeycomb structure is formed by combining a four-pointed star shaped structure and horizontal and vertical honeycomb wall arrays at star corners. The zero-Poisson-ratio honeycomb structure not only has the zero-Poisson-ratio characteristic, but also can achieve respective design of in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties. Meanwhile, due to the existence of the horizontal honeycomb walls and the vertical honeycomb walls, the connection of multiple honeycomb walls at angular points in the honeycomb structure is avoided. Moreover, a novel manufacturing mode is provided for the honeycomb structure in addition to prepare the honeycomb structure by utilizing a 3D printing process. The honeycomb structure can be manufactured by combining an interlocking assembly process with resin matrix composites. The performance of the honeycomb structure is further improved at the material level.

Thin, self-supporting biaxially expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes that have a high crystallinity index, high intrinsic strength, low areal density (i.e., lightweight), and high optical transparency are provided. In particular, the ePTFE membrane may have a crystallinity index of at least about 94% and a matrix tensile strength at least about 600 MPa in both longitudinal nd transverse directions. In addition, the ePTFE membrane is transparent or invisible to the naked eye through a complete conversion of the PTFE primary particles into fibrils. The ePTFE membrane may have a thickness per layer of less than 100 nm and a porosity reater than 50%. Further, the ePTFE membrane is stackable, which, in turn, may be used to control permeability, pore size, and/or bulk mechanical properties. The ePTFE membrane may be used to form composites, laminates, fibers, tapes, sheets, tubes, or three-dimensional objects. Additionally, the ePTFE membrane may be used in filtration applications.

A soft-melted parison is disposed in molds forming a shape of a measurement pipeline portion 10, the parison is expanded by means of gas inflow, and blow molding is performed. The shapes of a pipe body 11, a fluid inlet portion 12, and a fluid outlet portion 13 are formed by an inner mold of the molds. Ultrasonic wave input-output portions 14a and 14b bulging outwards in a sealed manner are formed on both sides positioned in the oblique direction of the pipe body 11 with respect to a center line of the pipe body 11. Parts of the ultrasonic wave input-output portions 14a and 14b are wall surfaces 15a and 15b for attaching ultrasonic wave transmission-reception units. The measurement pipeline portion 10 is obtained by cutting end portions of the fluid inlet portion 12 and the fluid outlet portion 13 after the parison is solidified.

A method for producing an injection-moulded plastic component made of a plastic having at least one recess for accommodating sensors, having the following steps: producing the injection-moulded plastic component in a mould having top and bottom mould halves; raising the top mould half and introducing a thermoregulatable ram which is guided in a sleeve; placing the sleeve with integrated annular space on the surface of the injection-moulded component, to form an annular bead in the annular space; pressing the thermoregulated ram into the surface of the injection-moulded component; and cooling the ram and raising it from the surface.

A method of making tonebars and other components for musical instruments comprises using a pultrusion apparatus to embed or coat glass, plant-based, and/or other fibers in or with a thermosetting, thermoplastic, or catalyzed polymer matrix. The coated fibers are pulled into a continuous bar in a curing and forming die. The bar is then cut into predetermined lengths. Each length is then carefully tuned by cutting and shaping so that when it is struck, it will emit musical notes on a chromatic musical scale. In one aspect, the fibers and resin are selected to produce tonebars for marimbas and xylophones that emulate the sound obtained from highly desirable Honduran rosewood at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact associated with this wood.

A polyurethane-based display, in particular for a vehicle, includes a decorative element with at least one cutout. At least one printed sheet is disposed in the at least one cutout such that the printed part of the printed sheet is visible. The printed sheet is coated with a first polyurethane layer.

A waterproofing system including a functional layer S1 including 10-80 wt.-% of at least one thermoplastic polymer P1 and 10-80 wt.-% of at least one solid particulate filler F, wherein the surface of the functional layer S1 has an Auto-correlation length of waviness W(Sal) of at least 50 μm. Further, a method for producing a waterproofing system and to the use of a mechanical surface treatment step to increase the waviness factor, determined as the ratio of the Root mean square roughness of waviness W(Sq) to the square of the Auto-correlation length of waviness W(Sal), of a surface of a functional layer S1.

A material for an injection nozzle is molded into a form that includes a sacrificial tip around the nozzle exit orifice. The sacrificial tip is then machined away using any suitable machining process to expose the exit orifice. In this manner, an injection nozzle can be fabricated with favorable geometric characteristics.