A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery array and a foam shell that surrounds the battery array.

There is disclosed a sealable, flexible membrane for encapsulating a part to be isostatically pressed at an elevated temperature. The membrane includes at least one first layer of polymeric film having a melting point above the elevated temperature, and at least one second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer comprising a metal. In one embodiment, the metal comes into contact with the part to be isostatically pressed. The membrane, which typically has a thickness ranging from 10 to about 500 μm, and is impermeable to the flow of liquids and gases when sealed, can be used to warm press parts up to about 350° C. and pressures ranging from 5,000 psi to 100.000 psi. Methods to isostatically press parts using this sealable, flexible membrane are also disclosed. Bags made from the sealable, flexible membrane that are used in isostatic presses are also disclosed.

A battery assembly includes a battery array and a foam shell that surrounds the battery array. The battery array may be housed within a foam shell, and a barrier can be secured to the foam shell to establish a battery assembly. The battery assembly may then be secured to a vehicle body.

Microstructured composite material, comprising a matrix, comprising at least one sort of a thermoplastic plastic material and, distributed homogenously in the matrix, at least one sort of lignin and/or at least one lignin derivative, characterized in that the at least one sort of lignin and/or at least one lignin derivative is present in particulate form and the cross-sectional area of the particles has a round, approximately round, circular, approximately circular, elliptical or approximately elliptical geometry.

A housing includes a metal substrate, an adhesive layer formed on the metal substrate, and a resin film formed on the adhesive layer, the metal substrate, the adhesive layer and the resin film cooperatively form a cavity through a stamping process, an internal structure needed by the housing is formed in the cavity through an injection process, and the internal structure is formed on the resin film.

The invention provides a composition comprising at least the following components: A) a first composition comprising a first ethylene-based interpolymer; and where the first composition has a density less than, or equal to, 0.91 g/cc, and a melt index (I2) from 6.0 to 20.0 g/10 min; B) optionally, at least one filler that is capable of being excited by an alternating electromagnetic field at a frequency greater than, or equal to, 10 MHz; C) at least one flame retardant selected from the following: i) from 30.0 to 50.0 wt % of one or more non-halogen, inorganic flame retardant compounds, based on the weight of the composition; or ii) from 8.0 to 30.0 wt % of one or more halogen-containing flame retardant compounds, based on the weight of the composition; and D) at least one polar polymer.

A process for manufacturing a hollow body including a thermoplastic wall and a fibrous reinforcement welded on at least one portion of the surface of the wall, or its outer surface, the fibrous reinforcement including a thermoplastic similar to or compatible with that of the wall of the hollow body, having a thickness of at least 1 mm and from 30 to 60% in weight of fibers, the method including heating a portion of the outer surface of the hollow body where the reinforcement will be welded; heating the fibrous reinforcement to soften or melt the thermoplastic of the reinforcement; and moving the reinforcement and applying the reinforcement to the portion of the outer surface of the hollow body. The applying the reinforcement includes: applying an initial pressure on at least one portion of the reinforcement; and applying pressure for a final welding using robotized pressure applying mechanism.

A process for manufacturing a hollow body including a thermoplastic wall and a fibrous reinforcement welded on at least one portion of the surface of the wall, or its outer surface, the fibrous reinforcement including a thermoplastic similar to or compatible with that of the wall of the hollow body, having a thickness of at least 1 mm and from 30 to 60% in weight of fibers, the method including heating a portion of the outer surface of the hollow body where the reinforcement will be welded; heating the fibrous reinforcement to soften or melt the thermoplastic of the reinforcement; and moving the reinforcement and applying the reinforcement to the portion of the outer surface of the hollow body. The applying the reinforcement includes: applying an initial pressure on at least one portion of the reinforcement; and applying pressure for a final welding using robotized pressure applying mechanism.

A thermoplastic elastomer composition forming the contact portion (6) comprises: 30 to 60 parts by weight of component (a): a block copolymer comprising at least two polymer blocks A mainly comprising a vinyl aromatic compound and at least one polymer block B mainly comprising a conjugated diene compound, and/or a hydrogenated block copolymer obtained by hydrogenating the block copolymer; 10 to 30 parts by weight of component (b): a homopolymer of crystalline ethylene or propylene, or a crystalline copolymer mainly comprising the ethylene or propylene; and 25 to 55 parts by weight of component (c): a rubber softener; and in addition to the above-mentioned (a)+(b)+(c)=100 parts by weight; 3 to 15 parts by weight of component (d): a petroleum resin and/or a hydrogenated petroleum resin obtained by hydrogenation.

A system and method for extruding film with a thickened profile section. In some embodiments, the film forms bags with integral zipper profiles. Plastic film is extruded to form a tube. During extrusion, cooling jets direct cooling gases toward the thickened profile section below the frost line to preferentially cool the thickened profile sections. In some embodiments, warm air is drawn out of the tube interior through hot air intakes located below the frost line. In certain embodiments, the film is extruded at a higher rate of speed than conventional processes. Likewise, the extruded film tube is expanded at a lower blow up ratio than conventional processes in certain preferred embodiments. In some embodiments, the extrusion system includes an air flow surface oriented relative to the film tube to define an air flow gap of substantially uniform thickness.