A composite housing and a method of assembling a composite housing for a scanning assembly. A body of the housing defines an opening of a first perimeter. A polymethylpentene scanning plate is provided which has lip with a marginally larger perimeter than the first perimeter. During assembly of the composite housing, at least a part of scanning plate is thermally contracted to allow it to be positioned within the opening such that the peripheral side surface of the scanning surface faces the edge of the body. When the scanning plate returns to ambient temperature and expands at least a portion of the side surface of the scanning plate engages the edge of the body.

Methods and apparatuses for bonding polymeric parts are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, the polymeric parts are bonded by plastically deforming them against each other while they are below the glass transition temperatures. A method includes: placing a first polymeric part in contact with a second polymeric part; and plastically deforming the first polymeric part and the second polymeric part against each other to bond the first polymeric part to the second polymeric part. Additionally, during the plastic deformation, a temperature of the first polymeric part is less than a glass transition temperature of the first polymeric part and a temperature of the second polymeric part is less than a glass transition temperature of the second polymeric part.

Methods and apparatuses for bonding polymeric parts are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, the polymeric parts are bonded by plastically deforming them against each other while they are below the glass transition temperatures. A method includes: placing a first polymeric part in contact with a second polymeric part; and plastically deforming the first polymeric part and the second polymeric part against each other to bond the first polymeric part to the second polymeric part. Additionally, during the plastic deformation, a temperature of the first polymeric part is less than a glass transition temperature of the first polymeric part and a temperature of the second polymeric part is less than a glass transition temperature of the second polymeric part.

A process of making a drag-reducing aerodynamic vehicle system includes injection molding a body configured for attachment to a roof of a vehicle with a sliding core, wherein the body comprises an air inlet extending through a surface of the body, wherein the air inlet includes an air guide boss extending from an interior surface of the body, wherein the air guide boss adjusts an air stagnation point away from the windshield to reduce air pressure and drag on the vehicle; and ejecting the drag-reducing aerodynamic vehicle system from the injection mold using the sliding core.

A 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer having: a unit derived from 4-methyl-1-pentene of 90 to 100% by mol; a unit selected from ethylene and an -olefin, other than 4-methyl-1-pentene, having 3 to 20 carbon atoms of 0 to 10% by mol; and the polymer satisfying the following requirements: (a) a meso diad fraction measured by .sup.13C-NMR within the range of 98 to 100%; (b) a ratio of Z-average molecular weight Mz to weight-average molecular weight Mw measured by GPC within the range of 2.5 to 20; (c) a ratio of weight-average molecular weight Mw to number-average molecular weight Mn measured by GPC within the range of 3.6 to 30; (d) a melt flow rate measured under conditions of 260 C. and a 5 kg load (ASTM D1238) within the range of 0.1 to 500 g/10 min; and (e) an amount of a decane-soluble portion at 23 C. is 5.0% by mass or less.

An electro-welding fitting includes a main body from a first plastics material having an elasticity modulus E2 and at least one heating element for heating the plastics first material. The at least one heating element is entirely or partially surrounded by a second plastics material that does not correspond to the first plastics material or that has other properties from those of the first plastics material

An electro-welding fitting includes a main body from a first plastics material having an elasticity modulus E2 and at least one heating element for heating the plastics first material. The at least one heating element is entirely or partially surrounded by a second plastics material that does not correspond to the first plastics material or that has other properties from those of the first plastics material

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

Various embodiments relate to plastic-metal junctions and methods of making the same via laser-assisted joining. The present invention provides a method of forming a junction between a metal form and a solid plastic. The method can include laser treating a surface of a metal form to generate a feature (e.g., a plurality of at least one of pores and grooves) in the surface of the metal, wherein the laser has an angle of incidence with the surface of the metal of other than 0 degrees. The method can include contacting the metal surface including the feature with a flowable resin composition. The method can include curing the flowable resin composition to form the solid plastic, to provide the junction between the metal form and the solid plastic.