A method of fabricating a blade. The blade comprises subassemblies made of thermoplastic composite materials, each subassembly comprising an internal arrangement and at least one external arrangement, each internal arrangement comprising a stack of intermediate layers comprising reinforcing fibers impregnated with a semicrystalline thermoplastic matrix, each external arrangement comprising at least one surface layer comprising reinforcing fibers impregnated with an alloy of a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer and of an amorphous thermoplastic polymer. An assembly film comprising an amorphous thermoplastic material and a ferromagnetic member is interposed between two surface layers of two distinct subassemblies that are to be assembled together by a method of local heating by induction.

Systems and methods for curing complex fiber-reinforced composite structures utilize two distinct heat sources. A first heat source is utilized for heating a complex fiber-reinforced composite structure from within an internal portion of the complex fiber-reinforced composite structure. A second heat source is utilized for heating the complex fiber-reinforced composite structure from an external surface of the complex fiber-reinforced composite structure.

Provided are methods for heat curing of various materials, such as heat curable materials or more specifically potting compounds, which are disposed within cavities with limited access to these materials. Also provided are curing for executing such methods. In some embodiments, a heat curable material disposed within a cavity may be heated by a heating rod protruding into the cavity or through the cavity. The heating rod is thermally coupled to the heat curable material and is used to transfer heat to the heat curable material. For example, the heating rod may include a resistive heating element. The heating element may be positioned in such a way that the heat curable material is selectively heated within the cavity without significant heating of surrounding components. In some embodiments, the heating rod may be also used to compress the part containing the cavity or a stack including this part.

Provided are methods for heat curing of various materials, such as heat curable materials or more specifically potting compounds, which are disposed within cavities with limited access to these materials. Also provided are curing for executing such methods. In some embodiments, a heat curable material disposed within a cavity may be heated by a heating rod protruding into the cavity or through the cavity. The heating rod is thermally coupled to the heat curable material and is used to transfer heat to the heat curable material. For example, the heating rod may include a resistive heating element. The heating element may be positioned in such a way that the heat curable material is selectively heated within the cavity without significant heating of surrounding components. In some embodiments, the heating rod may be also used to compress the part containing the cavity or a stack including this part.

Objects produced by conventional three-dimensional printing methods are often incompletely consolidated and are not easily repaired. Printing compositions to address this issue can include a solidifiable matrix and a microwave absorber dispersed in the solidifiable matrix. The microwave absorber can be a plurality of carbon nanostructures containing a plurality of carbon nanotubes that are branched, crosslinked, and share common walls with one another. Methods for processing a three-dimensional printed object can include: providing a three-dimensional printed object formed from a printing composition containing a solidifiable matrix and a microwave absorber dispersed in the solidifiable matrix, and applying a focused input of microwave radiation to the printed object at one or more locations. Applying the microwave radiation heats the microwave absorber at the one or more locations and promotes consolidation of the printing composition within the printed object.

A method and apparatus for forming a sandwich structure is presented. A sandwich structure comprises a metallic core layer and a thermoplastic layer on a first side of the metallic core layer. The thermoplastic layer is consolidated against the first side of the metallic core layer.

The invention relates to the use of compounds of formulae (I) and/or (II) as colorless IR absorbers wherein M is Ni, Pd, Pt, Au, Ir, Fe, Zn, W, Cu, Mo, In, Mn, Co, Mg, V, Cr or Ti, X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are each independently of the others sulfur or oxygen, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently of the others hydrogen, NR.sub.7R.sub.8, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl wherein the alkylene chain is interrupted with oxygen, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, each independently of the other, being unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.18alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl or unsubstituted or substituted heteroarylalkyl, a further IR absorber optionally being added to the compounds of formulae (I) and (II). The invention relates also to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein X.sub.1 is oxygen and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are oxygen or sulfur. The invention relates furthermore to novel dithiolene compounds of formulae (I) and (II) wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.6 are NR.sub.7R.sub.8. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a cured composite component. The method includes laying one or more layers of uncured composite material onto a conductive core. An electric current is supplied to the conductive core to resistively heat the one or more layers of uncured composite material to a temperature sufficient to cure the one or more layers of uncured composite material into the cured composite component.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of forming a composite component. The method includes laying one or more layers of uncured composite material onto a mandrel. The mandrel which includes a plurality of conductive media dispersed in a thermoplastic material. An electric current is supplied to the mandrel to resistively heat the one or more layers of uncured composite material to a temperature sufficient to cure the one or more layers of uncured composite material to form a cured composite component. The mandrel is removed from the cured composite component.

Various implementations include a method of curing of thermoset resin. The method includes disposing one or more thermoset resin layers in a layup; disposing one or more heaters in the layup, wherein each of the one or more heaters includes two electrodes, wherein the two electrodes of each of the one or more heaters are couplable to an external electricity source when the one or more heaters are disposed in the layup; and providing enough electricity to the electrodes of each of the one or more heaters to cause the one or more heaters to heat the layup to fully cure the one or more thermoset resin layers to form a cured laminate.