Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of linings or liners (e.g., liners with corner reinforcement, etc.), methods of providing a liner or lining for a tank, and methods and apparatus for providing additional protection and/or reinforcement at the corners of a liner or lining. In an exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes positioning and attaching one or more corner attachments at one or more corners of a liner that are formed between the bottom and the one or more sides of the liner. The one or more corner attachments may be configured to provide additional protection and/or reinforcement at the one or more corners of the liner.

Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of linings or liners (e.g., liners with corner reinforcement, etc.), methods of providing a liner or lining for a tank, and methods and apparatus for providing additional protection and/or reinforcement at the corners of a liner or lining. In an exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes positioning and attaching one or more corner attachments at one or more corners of a liner that are formed between the bottom and the one or more sides of the liner. The one or more corner attachments may be configured to provide additional protection and/or reinforcement at the one or more corners of the liner.

A method for welding at least two parts including a thermoplastic material and having respective surfaces to be welded, including: inserting an insert between the surfaces to be welded of the two parts; generating heat via the insert; wherein the insert moves in relation to the parts to be welded in a welding direction. Also, an installation adapted for implementation of this method.

A method for welding at least two parts including a thermoplastic material and having respective surfaces to be welded, including: inserting an insert between the surfaces to be welded of the two parts; generating heat via the insert; wherein the insert moves in relation to the parts to be welded in a welding direction. Also, an installation adapted for implementation of this method.

A high altitude balloon, including a method and machine for manufacture, uses a perimeter border strip to couple two circular balloon panels with a lap or butt seal. Simultaneous sealing of two perimeter seals, one between the border strip and each of two balloon panels, is provided by supporting stacked balloon panels on a rotatable support and sealing around the full perimeter of the two interposed balloon panels and the border strip. The method and machine for manufacture allow for the mass production of high altitude balloons and minimize necessary material handling. The perimeter border strip can be dispensed and guided relative to the perimeter of the balloon panels for positioning before sealing together, as a bonding device is rotated relative to the balloon envelope.

A high altitude balloon, including a method and machine for manufacture, uses a perimeter border strip to couple two circular balloon panels with a lap or butt seal. Simultaneous sealing of two perimeter seals, one between the border strip and each of two balloon panels, is provided by supporting stacked balloon panels on a rotatable support and sealing around the full perimeter of the two interposed balloon panels and the border strip. The method and machine for manufacture allow for the mass production of high altitude balloons and minimize necessary material handling. The perimeter border strip can be dispensed and guided relative to the perimeter of the balloon panels for positioning before sealing together, as a bonding device is rotated relative to the balloon envelope.

VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymers having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000,000 g/mol and a melt temperature less than about 240° C. The VDF copolymer contains at least about 50 mol % VDF monomer and may include an amount of at least one other monomer. The VDF copolymer may be used to form a membrane that has a node and fibril structure. The membrane has a percent porosity of at least 25%. A VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymer membrane may be formed by lubricating the VDF copolymer, subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the VDF copolymer to form a preform material, and expanding the preform material at a temperature below the melting temperature of the VDF copolymer. Dense VDF copolymer articles, filled VDF copolymer membranes, and VDF copolymer fibers are also provided.

The invention relates to a composition based on a thermoplastic fluoropolymer powder, in particular on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with improved flowability, particularly suitable for manufacturing parts by 3D laser sintering. The invention also relates to a method for agglomerating powder layer by layer, by melting or sintering using said composition. The invention finally relates to a three-dimensional article obtained by implementing said method.

The method of metal-thermoplastic resin direct bonding is characterized by comprising a first step for irradiating a surface of the metal material with a pulse laser under an oxidizing atmosphere to form a surface modification region, a second step for causing the thermoplastic resin material to abut against the surface modification region to form a bonding interface, and a third step for heating up the bonding interface by laser irradiation to achieve bonding, the first step including forming metal oxide particle clusters obtained when metal oxide particles having a particle diameter of 5-500 nm to be continuously bonded at the surface modification region, so that the maximum height (Sz) of a surface of the metal oxide particle clusters is 50 nm-3 .Math.m.

The method of metal-thermoplastic resin direct bonding is characterized by comprising a first step for irradiating a surface of the metal material with a pulse laser under an oxidizing atmosphere to form a surface modification region, a second step for causing the thermoplastic resin material to abut against the surface modification region to form a bonding interface, and a third step for heating up the bonding interface by laser irradiation to achieve bonding, the first step including forming metal oxide particle clusters obtained when metal oxide particles having a particle diameter of 5-500 nm to be continuously bonded at the surface modification region, so that the maximum height (Sz) of a surface of the metal oxide particle clusters is 50 nm-3 .Math.m.