In various embodiments, a hot melt device comprising a heating device that is automatically or manually triggered is configured so as to have its melt surface applied bringing a thermoplastic material in its solid form into contact with a surface via mechanical extrusion; using a heater to heat the thermoplastic material to a temperature above a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the contact of the thermoplastic material with the surface; allowing the heated thermoplastic material to cool to a temperature that is below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature; and allowing the heated thermoplastic material to bond the hot melt apparatus to the contacted surface without a solvent or use of a curing chemical reaction when the heated thermoplastic material is cooled to below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature while remaining connected to the structural body.

In various embodiments, a hot melt device comprising a heating device that is automatically or manually triggered is configured so as to have its melt surface applied bringing a thermoplastic material in its solid form into contact with a surface via mechanical extrusion; using a heater to heat the thermoplastic material to a temperature above a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the contact of the thermoplastic material with the surface; allowing the heated thermoplastic material to cool to a temperature that is below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature; and allowing the heated thermoplastic material to bond the hot melt apparatus to the contacted surface without a solvent or use of a curing chemical reaction when the heated thermoplastic material is cooled to below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature while remaining connected to the structural body.

In various embodiments, a hot melt device comprising a heating device that is automatically or manually triggered is configured so as to have its melt surface applied bringing a thermoplastic material in its solid form into contact with a surface via mechanical extrusion; using a heater to heat the thermoplastic material to a temperature above a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the contact of the thermoplastic material with the surface; allowing the heated thermoplastic material to cool to a temperature that is below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature; and allowing the heated thermoplastic material to bond the hot melt apparatus to the contacted surface without a solvent or use of a curing chemical reaction when the heated thermoplastic material is cooled to below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature while remaining connected to the structural body.

Provided is a laminate having a gel layer on a substrate able to protect the substrate during various types of processing used in industrial production steps prior to curing. The gel layer has excellent heat resistance, softness and flexibility, a low modulus of elasticity, low stress, excellent stress buffering properties, and electronic component retention properties. The gel layer has higher shape retention before curing but changing after curing into a hard layer having excellent release properties. The laminate is easily and readily releasable from the substrate even when the cured layer is localized. Applications thereof are also provided (such as an electronic component manufacturing method). The laminate comprises a laminated reaction-curable silicone gel and a sheet-like member laminated via an adhesive layer on top of the reaction-curable silicone gel.

In various embodiments, a hot melt device comprising a heating device that is automatically or manually triggered is configured so as to have its melt surface applied bringing a thermoplastic material in its solid form into contact with a surface via mechanical extrusion; using a heater to heat the thermoplastic material to a temperature above a melting temperature of the thermoplastic material while maintaining the contact of the thermoplastic material with the surface; allowing the heated thermoplastic material to cool to a temperature that is below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature; and allowing the heated thermoplastic material to bond the hot melt apparatus to the contacted surface without a solvent or use of a curing chemical reaction when the heated thermoplastic material is cooled to below the thermoplastic material's melting temperature while remaining connected to the structural body.

A method and apparatus for fabricating a composite structure. The method comprises defining a shape for the composite structure with a first face sheet. The method places core sections on the shape defined by the first face sheet. The method places an adhesive in a group of joint cavities. The method places a second face sheet on the core sections placed on the first face sheet, wherein the first face sheet, the core sections, and the second face sheet, define a structural assembly in which the group of joint cavities are present. The method cures the structural assembly with the adhesive in the group of joint cavities to fabricate the composite structure in which the adhesive fills the group of joint cavities when the adhesive is cured.

A method and apparatus for fabricating a composite structure. The method comprises defining a shape for the composite structure with a first face sheet. The method places core sections on the shape defined by the first face sheet. The method places an adhesive in a group of joint cavities. The method places a second face sheet on the core sections placed on the first face sheet, wherein the first face sheet, the core sections, and the second face sheet, define a structural assembly in which the group of joint cavities are present. The method cures the structural assembly with the adhesive in the group of joint cavities to fabricate the composite structure in which the adhesive fills the group of joint cavities when the adhesive is cured.

A plastic product having magnetic properties and a method for making the same is provided. The method comprises creating a mixture of a nylon and a metal, melting the mixture to create a melted mixture of the metal suspended in the nylon, injecting the melted mixture into a mold to harden the melted mixture and shape the melted mixture into the product's shape, applying an electrical current to the mold while the mixture is in a viscous state to align the poles of the metal suspended in the nylon in the mixture in a single direction before the mixture has hardened, and applying a magnetic field to the hardened mixture to provide the product with magnetic properties.

A device and method are provided for testing the effectiveness of an adhesive composition to adhere a sheet of material to a substrate. A connector is attached to the sheet and the adhesive is used to adhere the sheet to the substrate and permitted to cure to a selected amount. After (or even before, if desired) the adhesive cures, a load is applied to the connector, having the effect of pulling the sheet away from the substrate. The duration of the pulling and the amount of the load can be varied. If too large a dome is formed under the location of the connector, the adhesive does not pass the test. Optionally, the adhesive formulation is adjusted to make it stronger to resist such doming.

A method of illumating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.