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.

There is provided a method for producing a metal-resin composite which includes a resin member and a metal member having a roughened surface in at least a portion of the surface thereof, the resin member being joined so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the roughened surface. The method includes a step of joining the resin member and the metal member by melting the resin member with the frictional heat generated in the surface of the metal member on its side opposite to the resin member in a state where the metal member and the resin member are superposed. The method includes making adjustment so that when the roughened surface is measured at arbitrary five points by using a confocal microscope according to ISO 25178, the developed area ratio (Sdr) is 5 or more in terms of number-average value.

There is provided a method for producing a metal-resin composite which includes a resin member and a metal member having a roughened surface in at least a portion of the surface thereof, the resin member being joined so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the roughened surface. The method includes a step of joining the resin member and the metal member by melting the resin member with the frictional heat generated in the surface of the metal member on its side opposite to the resin member in a state where the metal member and the resin member are superposed. The method includes making adjustment so that when the roughened surface is measured at arbitrary five points by using a confocal microscope according to ISO 25178, the developed area ratio (Sdr) is 5 or more in terms of number-average value.

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 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 lightweight, flame-retardant, multilayered composite structure having at least the following components: a thermoplastic foam core having two opposing surfaces; a thermoplastic adhesive film on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the foam core, one or more composite layer(s) on each adhesive film. The composite layer(s) is/are composed of reinforcement fibers embedded in a thermoplastic polymer or thermoset resin matrix. Adhesive bonding is effectuated by the interleaving thermoplastic adhesive film interposed between the thermoplastic foam core and the adjacent composite layer. The thermoplastic adhesive film is formed of a thermoplastic polymer composition having a T.sub.g of at least 20° C. lower than the T.sub.g of the foam core material.

A lightweight, flame-retardant, multilayered composite structure having at least the following components: a thermoplastic foam core having two opposing surfaces; a thermoplastic adhesive film on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the foam core, one or more composite layer(s) on each adhesive film. The composite layer(s) is/are composed of reinforcement fibers embedded in a thermoplastic polymer or thermoset resin matrix. Adhesive bonding is effectuated by the interleaving thermoplastic adhesive film interposed between the thermoplastic foam core and the adjacent composite layer. The thermoplastic adhesive film is formed of a thermoplastic polymer composition having a T.sub.g of at least 20° C. lower than the T.sub.g of the foam core material.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

A process is provided for thermal molding an article with at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers that are non-woven and uni-directionally oriented in combination with at least one layer of reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers including glass, carbon, nature based, and combinations thereof; alone or mixed with chopped thermoplastic fibers. Upon subjecting the layers to sufficient heat to thermally bond in the presence of non-oriented filler fibers, thermoplastic fiber fusion encapsulates the filler fibers. The filler fibers impart physical properties to the resulting article and the residual unidirectional orientation of the thermoplastic melt imparts physical properties in the fiber direction to the article. By combining layers with varying orientations of uni-directional fibers relative to one another, the physical properties of the resulting article may be controlled and extended relative to conventional thermoplastic moldings. The uni-directional fibers may have discontinuities along the length of individual fibers.