The present application relates generally to tubes, such as thin walled catheter liners with small wall thicknesses (e.g., less than 1 mm), including crosslinked fluoropolymers, e.g., crosslinked poly(tetrafluoroethylene). The disclosure further provides methods of manufacturing such tubes and systems for manufacturing such tubes.

The invention includes a method of bonding a perfluoroelastomer material to first surface that includes: (a) contacting a first surface with a bonding agent comprising a curable perfluoropolymer and a curing agent; (b) curing the bonding agent to form a perfluoroelastomer material that is bonded to the first surface. In the practice of such method, the bonding agent may be a solution prepared by dissolving the curable perfluoroelastomer and the curing agent in a solvent. In an embodiment of the invention, the perfluoroelastomer material formed in step (b) is a coating layer or, alternatively, the first surface is a surface of a perfluoroelastomer member and the perfluoroelastomer material formed is a perfluoroelastomer weld.

The invention includes a method of bonding a perfluoroelastomer material to first surface that includes: (a) contacting a first surface with a bonding agent comprising a curable perfluoropolymer and a curing agent; (b) curing the bonding agent to form a perfluoroelastomer material that is bonded to the first surface. In the practice of such method, the bonding agent may be a solution prepared by dissolving the curable perfluoroelastomer and the curing agent in a solvent. In an embodiment of the invention, the perfluoroelastomer material formed in step (b) is a coating layer or, alternatively, the first surface is a surface of a perfluoroelastomer member and the perfluoroelastomer material formed is a perfluoroelastomer weld.

A unit for the regulation for control of a fluid pressure, having at least one housing section and a switching film connected to the at least one housing section. A chemically inert, non-rubber-like PTFEswitching film switching film is disposed in the valve housing and switches at pressure differences of 1 mbar to 250 mbar for regulating, opening or blocking a flow of a fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The switching film is formed of a fluorine and carbon containing polymer material. The switching film has a plate-shaped flat body with a bending region and has a central closure region surrounded by the bending region. The bending region, when switching the switching film, moves the central closure region relative to a valve seat of the valve housing in an axial direction of the plate-shaped flat body toward or away from the valve seat by a stretch free or low-stretch bending movement.

A unit for the regulation for control of a fluid pressure, having at least one housing section and a switching film connected to the at least one housing section. A chemically inert, non-rubber-like PTFEswitching film switching film is disposed in the valve housing and switches at pressure differences of 1 mbar to 250 mbar for regulating, opening or blocking a flow of a fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The switching film is formed of a fluorine and carbon containing polymer material. The switching film has a plate-shaped flat body with a bending region and has a central closure region surrounded by the bending region. The bending region, when switching the switching film, moves the central closure region relative to a valve seat of the valve housing in an axial direction of the plate-shaped flat body toward or away from the valve seat by a stretch free or low-stretch bending movement.

The present disclosure provides a welded body having a connecting structure formed by welding a first molded body and a second molded body, wherein the first and second molded bodies contain at least one copolymer selected from the group consisting of a tetrafluoroethylene/fluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and wherein the connecting structure has a liquid contact surface to be in contact with a liquid having a solubility parameter of 14 to 35 (MPa).sup.1/2, a welded part formed in the connecting structure is not exposed to the liquid contact surface, and the number of particles of 30 nm or larger to be eluted from the liquid contact surface in the connecting structure is 1,000 particles/ml or less.

The present disclosure provides a welded body having a connecting structure formed by welding a first molded body and a second molded body, wherein the first and second molded bodies contain at least one copolymer selected from the group consisting of a tetrafluoroethylene/fluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer and a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and wherein the connecting structure has a liquid contact surface to be in contact with a liquid having a solubility parameter of 14 to 35 (MPa).sup.1/2, a welded part formed in the connecting structure is not exposed to the liquid contact surface, and the number of particles of 30 nm or larger to be eluted from the liquid contact surface in the connecting structure is 1,000 particles/ml or less.

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.

Construction of a sealed connection between an elastomeric or synthetic polymer flexible pipe or hose and a metallic coupling member. The coupling member surrounds an armor layer at a free end of the flexible pipe or hose. A sealing area is defined by a recessed portion of the pipe coupling into which a sealing material is introduced. An inner liner layer of the flexible pipe or hose may extend into the sealing area where it is bonded to the sealing material. The sealing material and the inner liner layer may each be comprised of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. Furthermore, a reinforcement material may be provided in the inner liner layer.