A method of activating a surface of a plastics substrate formed from: (a) polyaryletherketone such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polyether ketone (PEK); polyether ether ketone ketone (PEEKK); or polyether ketone ether ketone ketone (PEKEKK); (b) a polymer containing a phenyl group directly attached to a carbonyl group, optionally wherein the carbonyl group is part of an amide group, such as polyarylamide (PARA); (c) polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); or (d) polyetherimide (PEI); for subsequent bonding, the method comprising the step of exposing the surface to actinic radiation wherein the actinic radiation: includes radiation with wavelength in the range from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm; the energy of the actinic radiation to which the surface is exposed is in the range from about 0.5 J/cm.sup.2 to about 300 J/cm.sup.2.

Hard to bond substrates are then more easily subsequently bonded for example using acrylic, epoxy or anaerobic adhesive.

A method of activating a surface of a plastics substrate formed from: (a) polyaryletherketone such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polyether ketone (PEK); polyether ether ketone ketone (PEEKK); or polyether ketone ether ketone ketone (PEKEKK); (b) a polymer containing a phenyl group directly attached to a carbonyl group, optionally wherein the carbonyl group is part of an amide group, such as polyarylamide (PARA); (c) polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); or (d) polyetherimide (PEI); for subsequent bonding, the method comprising the step of exposing the surface to actinic radiation wherein the actinic radiation: includes radiation with wavelength in the range from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm; the energy of the actinic radiation to which the surface is exposed is in the range from about 0.5 J/cm.sup.2 to about 300 J/cm.sup.2.

Hard to bond substrates are then more easily subsequently bonded for example using acrylic, epoxy or anaerobic adhesive.

Polymeric foam layer having a thickness up to 25,700 micrometers, having first and second opposed major surfaces, and comprising foam features extending from or into the first major surface by at least 100 micrometers, and having a T.sub.g in a range from 125 C. to 150 C., wherein the first and second opposed major surfaces are free of exposed internal porous cells (i.e., less than 10 percent of the surface area of each of the first and second major surface has any exposed porous cells) and wherein at least 40 percent by area of each major surface has an as-cured surface; and methods of making the same. Exemplary uses of polymeric foam layers described herein including a finishing pad for silicon wafers and vibration damping.

A method of manufacturing an impregnated fibrous material including a fibrous material made of continuous fibers and at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix, the method including pre-impregnating the fibrous material while it is in the form of a roving or several parallel rovings with the thermoplastic material and heating the thermoplastic matrix for melting, or maintaining in the molten state, the thermoplastic polymer after pre-impregnation, the at least one heating step being carried out by means of at least one heat-conducting spreading part (E) and at least one heating system, with the exception of a heated calendar, the roving or the rovings being in contact with part or all of the surface of the at least one spreading part (E) and partially or wholly passing over the surface of the at least one spreading part (E) at the level of the heating system.

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.

Polymer foams based on polyetherimides (PEIs) fulfill the legal specifications demanded by the aviation industry for aircraft interiors. Specifically, the demands on fire characteristics, stability to media and mechanical properties constitute a great challenge here. According to related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semi-finished products. Reprocessing to give shaped articles is uneconomic in terms of time and material exploitation, for example by virtue of large amounts of cutting waste. The material is suitable in principle and can be processed to give particle foam mouldings. These mouldings can be produced without reprocessing in short cycle times and, hence, economically. Furthermore, this gives rise to new means of functional integration, for example by direct incorporation of inserts etc. in the foam, and with regard to freedom in terms of design.

A method for inserting an insert into a hole in a composite material made from a plurality of carbon fiber layers suspended in a resin material includes lowering a temperature of the insert to a reduced temperature at which a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material of the insert causes the insert to contract to a first perimeter, inserting the insert at the reduced temperature into the hole, and permitting the temperature of the insert to increase from the reduced temperature to an operational temperature. At the operational temperature, the insert expands to a second perimeter so that the insert is retained within the composite material due to an interference between the insert and the composite material. The interference transfers a structural load from the insert to the composite material and results in damage to the composite material if the insert is dislodged at the operational temperature.

A method for inserting an insert into a hole in a composite material made from a plurality of carbon fiber layers suspended in a resin material includes lowering a temperature of the insert to a reduced temperature at which a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material of the insert causes the insert to contract to a first perimeter, inserting the insert at the reduced temperature into the hole, and permitting the temperature of the insert to increase from the reduced temperature to an operational temperature. At the operational temperature, the insert expands to a second perimeter so that the insert is retained within the composite material due to an interference between the insert and the composite material. The interference transfers a structural load from the insert to the composite material and results in damage to the composite material if the insert is dislodged at the operational temperature.

A method comprising receiving a first 3D toolpath defining a fill material curved shell, receiving first 2D toolpaths defining support material flat shells, receiving a second 3D toolpath defining a long fiber composite material curved shell, the long fiber composite material including a filament having a matrix embedding fibers having a length longer than two times a diameter of the filament, actuating a fill material deposition head to trace the first 3D toolpath to deposit the fill material curved shell non-parallel to a printing substrate, actuating a support material deposition head to trace the first 2D toolpaths to deposit support material in a succession of substantially flat shells, and actuating a long fiber deposition head to trace the second 3D toolpath non-parallel to the printing substrate to deposit the long fiber composite material curved shell to enclose at least a portion of the fill material curved shell.

A portable welding device comprising: a base facing a work surface, designed to receive tapes in electrically conductive composite materials to be joined or defined by at least one already positioned tape; an operating head receiving one tape at a time and movable with respect to the base along at least a first movement line parallel to the work surface; a motorized arm connecting the operating head to the base and selectively activatable to impart movements to the operating head; and feeding means selectively activatable to feed one tape at a time to the operating head and connected to the operating head; the operating head comprises a positioning roller receiving a tape at a time; a pressure roller spaced from and aligned with the positioning roller along the first movement line; and an inductor interposed between the positioning roller and the pressure roller with reference to the first movement line.