A manufacturing method for manufacturing a welded thermoplastic composite and honeycomb core structure is provided. A thermoplastic composite and honeycomb structure is generated by positioning a first thermoplastic composite skin on a support structure, positioning a first thermoplastic film over the first thermoplastic composite skin, positioning a honeycomb core over the first thermoplastic film, positioning a second thermoplastic film is positioned over the honeycomb core, and positioning a second thermoplastic composite skin over the second thermoplastic film. The second thermoplastic composite skin is ultrasonically welded to the honeycomb core. The thermoplastic composite and honeycomb structure is then flipped over, and the first thermoplastic composite skin is then ultrasonically welded to the honeycomb core.

A preparation method of a composite non-woven fabric by pleating to enhance stretchability, includes unwinding an upper layer of non-woven fabric and a stretch film, and adjusting them in position; pleating the adjusted upper layer of non-woven fabric along a cross direction (CD) or machine direction (MD) through an upper pleating mechanism, and aligning the pleated upper layer of non-woven fabric with the stretch film; feeding the upper layer of non-woven fabric and the stretch film aligned with each other into a first laminating device, and laminating a contact surface between the bottom of the pleat and the stretch film to obtain a double-layer stretch non-woven fabric material; and rewinding the laminated stretch material after tension adjustment and alignment. The method produces not only a CD- or MD-stretch material but also a four-way stretch material; by adding a pleated design to the non-woven fabric.

Systems, methods, schemes, techniques and processes are provided for forming laminate composite structures, including by implementing a unique ultrasonic fabrication support process to enhance interstitial interaction and strength between adjacent laminate composite layers and structures, realizing resultant improvements in structural strength and reliability against mixed mode failures in the fabricated laminate composite structures by exciting Z-aligned fibers in composite materials to be energized in an manner that facilitates at least contact or partial penetration of adjoining layers and structures with the energized Z-aligned fibers to create stronger and more reliable mechanical and structural bonds therebetween.

An apparatus having a first treatment module and a second treatment module positionable in proximity to the first treatment module, wherein at least one of the first treatment module and the second treatment module includes a welding device for treating one or more workpieces. The apparatus has a controller arranged to: receive a real-time amplitude signal of ultrasonic vibration of at least one of the first treatment module and the second treatment module during a treatment cycle; segment the amplitude signal into a plurality of amplitude segments for the treatment cycle; monitor an amplitude value of each of the plurality of amplitude segments during the treatment cycle; operate a plurality of closed-loop control algorithms to determine a plurality of amplitude adjustment values, each of the plurality of amplitude adjustment values corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of amplitude segments; and apply each amplitude adjustment value to the corresponding respective one of the plurality of amplitude segments during the subsequent treatment cycle in real-time. The treatment cycle comprises treating a single workpiece in a plurality of workpieces, and the treating including a bonding operation, a welding operation, a soldering operation, a fusing operation, or a cutting operation.

An apparatus having a first treatment module and a second treatment module, at least one of which includes a welding device for treating one or more workpieces. The apparatus has a controller arranged to: receive a real-time amplitude signal of ultrasonic vibration of at least one of the first treatment module and the second treatment module during a treatment cycle; segment the amplitude signal into a plurality of amplitude segments for the treatment cycle; monitor an amplitude value of each of the plurality of amplitude segments during the treatment cycle; operate a plurality of closed-loop control algorithms to determine a plurality of amplitude adjustment values, each of the plurality of amplitude adjustment values corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of amplitude segments; and apply each amplitude adjustment value to the corresponding respective one of the plurality of amplitude segments during the subsequent treatment cycle in real-time.

High-performance metal matrix composites of copper, aluminum, and/or titanium are produced by embedding nanocarbon reinforcement into metal foil or sheet which is concurrently laminated into a multilayer structure to produce high-performance materials for thermal management, enhanced electrical conductivity, armor products and high-strength composite structures.

A tubular implement, such as a container, in particular a container (pipe for transport) for food or beverages such as a drinking straw, includes a first part having a sheet of wood veneer rolled to form the tubular implement in the form of a cylinder.

A separation method includes a separation step in which a treatment target electrode including a current collector and an electrode mixture is treated with an ultrasonic wave in water (a treatment liquid) while the frequency of the ultrasonic wave is swept in order to separate the current collector and the electrode mixture from each other. A separation device includes a separation unit that treats the treatment target electrode with an ultrasonic wave in water to separate the current collector and the electrode mixture from each other and a controller that controls the separation unit such that the ultrasonic treatment is performed while the frequency of the ultrasonic wave is swept.

Method of laminating two polymeric components, preferably to form a microfluidic device, comprising the steps of: providing two polymeric components (60, 62), each having a connecting surface (53); providing a solvent (66) to at least one connecting surface (61, 53); securing the connecting surface (61) of a first polymeric component (60) to the connecting surface (53) of a second polymeric component (62); applying ultrasonic energy (68); and thereby bonding the connecting surfaces of the first and second polymeric components (60, 62), wherein the step of securing is performed before the solvent (66) is substantially evaporated, and wherein the solvent (66) has a Ra-distance with respect to the polymeric component (60, 62) in the range of 4 MPa.sup.1/2 to 10 MPa.sup.1/2. Ideally, the solvent is a bio-based non-toxic solvent with a boiling point above 100 C., e.g. Isopropyl myristate or diethyl butanedionate.

Sandwich-structured noise-attenuating and/or structural panels and methods of manufacturing such panels using ultrasonic welding are described. The method includes: receiving a backing member, a sheet and a cellular structure; assembling the cellular structure between the backing member and the sheet; and ultrasonically welding the backing member and the sheet together.