A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic composite product includes: providing a first and second thermoplastic composite component made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies, said first and second component having a first and second ply drop off, respectively. The first and second components are positioned such that the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off are aligned, and the first and second components are fixedly connected by means of heating. The stacks of plies for the first and second components are constructed by stacking the plies in a stacking direction wherein the plies are arranged such that plies at a different position along the stacking direction are laterally offset relative to each other for the purpose of forming the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off, respectively, before consolidating.

A container blank having an article handling feature for handling the container blank as well as the flexible packages made therefrom during manufacture, and method of making flexible packages using such a feature are described herein. Also described herein is an array of flexible packages containing a common article handling feature provided by such a method.

A container blank having an article handling feature for handling the container blank as well as the flexible packages made therefrom during manufacture, and method of making flexible packages using such a feature are described herein. Also described herein is an array of flexible packages containing a common article handling feature provided by such a method.

An example medical device includes a balloon that is inflatable to an inflated configuration. The balloon includes a non-compliant layer coextruded on an inner layer, and an outer layer coextruded on the non-compliant layer. The non-compliant layer is configured to delaminate from the inner and the outer layers in the inflated configuration. The non-compliant layer may be configured to rupture in the inflated configuration. An example technique includes inflating the balloon to a predetermined pressure sufficient to rupture the non-compliant layer and insufficient to rupture both the inner and outer layers. The example technique further includes deflating the balloon, and introducing the balloon into a vasculature. Another example technique includes coextruding a non-compliant layer on an inner layer, coextruding an outer layer on the non-compliant layer, and forming a balloon from the inner layer, the non-compliant layer, and the outer layer.

A process for producing a three-dimensional object by selectively layer-by-layer solidification of a powdery material layer at the locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object in a respective layer by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The powdery material comprises at least one polymer which is obtainable from its melt only in substantially amorphous or completely amorphous form, or a polyblend which is obtainable from its melt only in substantially amorphous or completely amorphous form. The powdery material has a specific melting enthalpy of at least 1 J/g.

A method for producing an acoustically resistive structure includes the steps of creating, consolidating and cutting a first layer of reinforcing fibres embedded in a first thermoplastic resin having a first melting point so as to obtain an interlayer, a step of laying a second layer of reinforcing fibres against a first face of the interlayer, a second consolidation step of consolidating the second layer of reinforcing fibres embedded in a second thermoplastic resin having a second consolidation temperature lower than the first melting point of the first resin so as to obtain a non-perforated external layer bound to the interlayer, a step of perforating the external layer and a step of laying an internal layer on a second face of the interlayer. An acoustically resistive structure obtained from the method as well as a sound-absorption panel including such an acoustically resistive structure are also described.

A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

A system and method for welding two thermoplastic workpieces. The system has an ultrasonic tool, a support and a cooling unit. The ultrasonic tool is configured to generate mechanical vibrations. The system is configured to clamp together workpieces in the receiving region by the ultrasonic tool and the support if at least one fastening portion of the workpieces opposite one another is arranged in the receiving region. The ultrasonic tool is configured to introduce the mechanical vibrations into the fastening portion of the workpieces to weld the workpieces in a joining zone. The cooling unit is configured to cool, with cooling fluid, at least a part of the fastening portion of the workpieces and/or a cooling portion of the workpieces directly adjacent to the fastening portion.

A system and method for welding two thermoplastic workpieces. The system has an ultrasonic tool, a support and a cooling unit. The ultrasonic tool is configured to generate mechanical vibrations. The system is configured to clamp together workpieces in the receiving region by the ultrasonic tool and the support if at least one fastening portion of the workpieces opposite one another is arranged in the receiving region. The ultrasonic tool is configured to introduce the mechanical vibrations into the fastening portion of the workpieces to weld the workpieces in a joining zone. The cooling unit is configured to cool, with cooling fluid, at least a part of the fastening portion of the workpieces and/or a cooling portion of the workpieces directly adjacent to the fastening portion.