A three-dimensional object comprises substantially planar or flat substrate layers that are folded and stacked in a predetermined order and infiltrated by a hardened material. The object is fabricated by positioning powder on all or part of multiple substrate layers. On each layer, the powder is selectively deposited in a pattern that corresponds to tiles that each have a slice of the object. For each slice, powder is deposited in positions that correspond to positions in the slice where the object exists, and not deposited where the object does not exist. The tiles of each substrate layer are folded and aligned in a predetermined order. Multiple folded substrate layers mat be combined into a single stack. The powder is transformed into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions, and does not infiltrate negative regions, in the substrate layers.

A foam assembly system is provided. The system is configured to heat a surface of foam. After the heating of the foam, an adhesive is applied, typically a high solids adhesive. The foam is then bonded to another foam surface. It has been found that the pre-heating of the foam before adhesive application greatly enhances the bond strength between the foam and the second foam surface to which it is adhered.

Fluid leak repair kits are described comprising a putty, self-amalgamating tape, and a composite material for use in encompassing the self-amalgamating tape. The composite material comprises a flexible sheet or tape and a matrix component for binding the flexible sheet or tape. The matrix component comprises a resin or water-activated matrix component which, when cured, forms an outer shell.

A structural assembly (900) and method of fabricating the same, the method comprising: providing a first member (204) comprising a bond surface (800) and a plurality of protrusions (802) extending from the bond surface (800), a length of each of the protrusions (802) from the bond surface (800) being less than or equal to 2 mm; providing a second member (202) comprising a fibre-reinforced composite material, the fibre-reinforced composite material comprising a plurality of elongate fibres (902) embedded in a polymer matrix (904); while the polymer matrix (904) is in its plastic state, forcing the second member (202) against the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802) so as to cause the second member (202) to form onto the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802); and thereafter causing the polymer matrix (904) to harden, thereby fixing the first member (204) to the bond surface of the second member (202).

An electrode with varying impedances includes a plurality of layers that are compressed together with varying compressions forces. A first compression force is used at the perimeter of the electrode and a second compression force is used towards the center of the electrode. The first compression force at the perimeter is lesser than the second compression force towards the center and creates a greater measured impedance at the perimeter of the electrode than at the center of the electrode.

A method for producing a composite pane, includes arranging a functional element in a recess of a thermoplastic frame film, arranging the thermoplastic frame film along with the functional element between a first glass pane and a second glass pane to form a layer stack, and subsequent joining of the layer stack by lamination to form a composite pane. The thermoplastic frame film and the functional element have a different thickness and the different thickness is at least partially compensated by at least one thermoplastic compensating film, whose thickness is less than twice as large as the difference between the thicknesses of the thermoplastic frame film and the functional element such that the maximum offset in the layer stack is less than the difference between the thicknesses of the thermoplastic frame film and the functional element.

A method for producing a composite glass pane, includes placing a first glass pane having a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm on a support mould, wherein the first glass pane is curved into a shape determined by the support mould; placing at least one thermoplastic film on the first glass pane; placing a curved second glass pane having a thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm on the thermoplastic film; and joining the first glass pane to the second glass pane via the thermoplastic film to form a composite glass pane by lamination.

A pressure-printed material preparing apparatus includes an attachment unit that attaches, powder which exhibits adhesiveness when pressure is applied, to a surface to be bonded of a recording medium; a fixation unit that applies pressure to the recording medium to which the powder is attached to fix the powder to the recording medium as an adhesive layer; a folding unit that folds the recording medium of which the adhesive layer is formed on the surface to be bonded, such that two portions of the surface to be bonded are opposed to each other; and an application unit that applies pressure to the recording medium in which the surfaces to be bonded are opposed to each other, to thereby bond the adhesive layer on one surface and the adhesive layer on the other surface.

New adhesives and methods for preparing them are disclosed that include polylactic acid irradiated with gamma radiation, such as by a Co.sup.60 source. Irradiation times are used that improve the characteristics of the adhesive materials. Generally, the dose of radiation is from about 5 kGy to about 200 kGy of gamma irradiation. The adhesives generally have melting temperatures in the range of at least about 140 to about 148 C. such that they can be conveniently used in conventional glue guns and other glue equipment. The disclosed adhesives can provide bond strengths in the range of about 1,600 psi or more to about 2,500 psi or more. The disclosed adhesives can include a crosslinking agents. They can be used to join a wide range of substrates including wood, metal, plastic, ceramic, glass or combinations of substrates. They can be conveniently prepared by heating a polylactic acid (polylactic acid) preparation and mixing the molten polylactic acid with one or more crosslinkers when present. The molten mixture can then be and the polylactic acid can be irradiated with the desired dose of gamma radiation. Irradiation can occur before during or after mixing with the crosslinking agent and before or after shaping into the desired shape or even after use to join substrates. The adhesives can be used to join substrates by any known method once heated to a molten state.

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.