This disclosure is directed to methods directly adhering epoxy-based, and other thermosetting surfacing films to solid thermoplastic surfaces and the structures derived or derivable from these methods. In some embodiments, the disclosure is also directed to composite structures comprising a thermoplastic substrate directly bonded to a thermoset(ting) surfacing film; wherein the direct bonding defines an interface between a thermoplastic surface of the thermoplastic substrate and a first surface of the thermoset(ting) surfacing film.

The present invention aims at providing a prepreg for producing a laminate suitable as a structural material, and a laminate, which have excellent tensile shear joining strength, fatigue joining strength, and interlaminar fractural toughness values, and can be firmly integrated with another structural member by welding. The present invention is a prepreg including the following structural components [A], [B], and [C], wherein [C] is present on a surface of the prepreg, [C] is a crystalline thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or higher or an amorphous thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 180° C. or higher, and the reinforcing fibers [A] are present which are included in a resin area including [B] and a resin area including [C] across an interface between the two resin areas: [A] reinforcing fibers; [B] a thermosetting resin; and [C] a thermoplastic resin.

A joint between dissimilar thermoplastic materials comprising a first thermoplastic material layer; a second thermoplastic material layer having a melting point temperature different from a melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer; and an interface layer coupled between the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer; wherein the interface layer is configured to join the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer together to form the joint, wherein the interface layer comprises a melting point temperature having a value selected from the group consisting of between the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer; or lower than the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer.

A joint between dissimilar thermoplastic materials comprising a first thermoplastic material layer; a second thermoplastic material layer having a melting point temperature different from a melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer; and an interface layer coupled between the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer; wherein the interface layer is configured to join the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer together to form the joint, wherein the interface layer comprises a melting point temperature having a value selected from the group consisting of between the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer; or lower than the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer.

A method of manufacturing magnets and a method of manufacturing a rotor are provided. An intermediate member includes a sheet and magnet bodies. The sheet includes a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface on a side opposite to the first sheet surface. The magnet bodies are located on the first sheet surface. A first die is made of an elastic material having an elastic coefficient lower than the elastic coefficient of the magnet bodies. The intermediate member is arranged between the first die and a second die such that the second sheet surface of the sheet faces the first die. The first die and the second die hold the intermediate member in between. Accordingly, the sheet is cut at positions between adjacent ones of the magnet bodies.

A method of manufacturing magnets and a method of manufacturing a rotor are provided. An intermediate member includes a sheet and magnet bodies. The sheet includes a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface on a side opposite to the first sheet surface. The magnet bodies are located on the first sheet surface. A first die is made of an elastic material having an elastic coefficient lower than the elastic coefficient of the magnet bodies. The intermediate member is arranged between the first die and a second die such that the second sheet surface of the sheet faces the first die. The first die and the second die hold the intermediate member in between. Accordingly, the sheet is cut at positions between adjacent ones of the magnet bodies.

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.

The disclosure is directed to a solid part, and a device and process of making the solid part. The process includes introducing a glass fiber filled polymeric material to a hopper of an injection molding machine, where the glass fibers have a pre-molding length, melting the glass fiber filled polymeric material to form a melt in a plasticizing unit, pressurizing the plasticizing unit of the injection molding machine with a blowing agent, dissolving the blowing agent into the melt, injecting the melt into a mold cavity up to 100% of volume, and forming the solid part.

A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes forming a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, cooling the first TPC with a cooling apparatus before heating by the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil after cooling the first TPC.