A three-dimensional object comprises stacked substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. Each substrate layer is a sheet-like structure that comprises fibers held together by a sodium silicate binder. The substrate layer material may be non-woven or woven. The substrate layer may be a non-woven fiber veil bound by a sodium silicate binder. The fibers may optionally include carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, polymer fibers, glass fibers, metal fibers, or a combination thereof.

A filter element (20) includes individual components (2, 4, 8), such as a filter medium (8) as one component and further filter element components (2, 4), of which at least one component (4) is made of a material that is at least partially transparent to laser light and at least one further component (2), in the manner of a barrier layer, is made of a material that is at least partially opaque to laser light to perform a transmission welding method by laser light for connecting associable components to each other. At least some of the components of the filter element that are exposed to the laser light during the transmission welding method are at least partially electrically conductive.

A filter element (20) includes individual components (2, 4, 8), such as a filter medium (8) as one component and further filter element components (2, 4), of which at least one component (4) is made of a material that is at least partially transparent to laser light and at least one further component (2), in the manner of a barrier layer, is made of a material that is at least partially opaque to laser light to perform a transmission welding method by laser light for connecting associable components to each other. At least some of the components of the filter element that are exposed to the laser light during the transmission welding method are at least partially electrically conductive.

The present invention provides a heat shrinkable multilayer film that has excellent adhesiveness between front and back layers and an interlayer, effectively prevents delamination, and is less likely to have white creases on folds. The present invention also provides a heat shrinkable label formed from the heat shrinkable multilayer film. The present invention relates to a heat shrinkable multilayer film, including: front and back layers each containing a polyester resin; an interlayer containing a polystyrene resin; and adhesive layers, wherein the front and back layers and the interlayer are stacked with the adhesive layers interposed therebetween, and the adhesive layers each contain 50 to 95% by weight of a polystyrene resin and 5 to 50% by weight of a polyester elastomer.

A thermally insulated VIP sandwich shipper for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The shipper comprises an outer shell, an inner shell and vacuum insulated panels sandwiched therebetween. The outer shell and the inner shell may be unitary rigid structures made of an expanded foam material and comprising a bottom having a perimeter and sides extending from the bottom perimeter and terminating in a rim. The inner shell rim may be spaced from the outer shell rim to define a gap, the gap being sealed to create an enclosed space within which the vacuum insulated panels are located. Each vacuum insulated panel may be oriented substantially orthogonally to at least one adjacent vacuum insulated panel and have an edge that abuts the adjacent vacuum insulated panels.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A method of making molded foam articles and the articles produced. A molded foam article is produced by heating or preheating the mold to a temperature at or above the glass transition or melt temperature of the particles to be molded. Foamed particles are then introduced into the mold. The particle filled mold is then subjected to a vacuum to stabilize the molded article, without application of any additional heating or cooling. The molded article is then removed from the mold at a temperature at or below the glass transition temperature of the particles, and the cycle repeated to form multiple molded articles.

A laser welded structure is formed by laser welding together a resin molded body formed from a thermoplastic polymer alloy containing a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin and a metal body made of a metal. A glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin is lower than a melting start temperature of the crystalline resin.

A laser welded structure is formed by laser welding together a resin molded body formed from a thermoplastic polymer alloy containing a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin and a metal body made of a metal. A glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin is lower than a melting start temperature of the crystalline resin.