A resistance spot welding system can join two polymeric workpieces and includes a power supply. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The resistance spot welding system further includes a welding electrode assembly electrically connected to the power supply. The welding electrode assembly includes a housing, a first electrically conductive pin and a second electrically conductive pin. The first and second electrically conductive pins both protrude from the housing. The first electrically conductive pin is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the second electrically conductive pin is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. The second electrically conductive material is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive pin. The first and second electrically conductive pins are at least partly made of a material having a hardness ranging between 50 HRC and 70 HRC.

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.

Provided are an article including a joint portion of a fluororesin having sufficient strength, and a method of producing the same. The article includes a joint portion including: a porous first layer of a first fluororesin; a second layer of a second fluororesin having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first fluororesin; and a non-porous third layer formed between the first layer and the second layer, the non-porous third layer including the first fluororesin.

Provided are an article including a joint portion of a fluororesin having sufficient strength, and a method of producing the same. The article includes a joint portion including: a porous first layer of a first fluororesin; a second layer of a second fluororesin having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first fluororesin; and a non-porous third layer formed between the first layer and the second layer, the non-porous third layer including the first fluororesin.

A heat shrink tubing is provided exhibiting various desirable properties, which generally comprises at least one fluorinated polymeric resin. The tubing can exhibit desirable physical properties such as heat shrink capability, high expansion/recovery ratio, low longitudinal shrinkage, low temperature recovery, and an average wall thickness of less than about 0.003 inches.

An injection-molded preform for forming an 8 ounce PET container includes a neck portion configured to engage a closure and having a first wall thickness and an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap. The upper segment has a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness. The lower segment has a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness. The preform has a total weight less than 7 grams.

Methods for additive manufacturing are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises illuminating a photothermal base with light, the photothermal base comprising a photothermal material and mounted in an additive manufacturing system to form a first interface between a surface of the photothermal base and a curable composition comprising thermally curable components, wherein the light induces light-to-energy conversion in the photothermal base to generate heat at the first interface, thereby inducing curing of the thermally curable components to form a first cured region. Additive manufacturing systems and photothermal bases are also provided.

A method of correcting, in a composite component, an inappropriate countersink with an inappropriate maximum diameter and/or depth, the inappropriate countersink being provided in the composite component at a fixation opening having a first opening diameter, the method comprising at least the steps of: Preparing a repair patch; Arranging the repair patch on the composite component in an area surrounding the inappropriate countersink; Pressing the repair patch at least partly into the inappropriate countersink by means of an associated pressure tool; and Fixing the repair patch in the inappropriate countersink.

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.