A conductive fastener system for connecting a composite structure to a support structure includes a composite structure hole that extends through the composite structure and shares a common axis with a support structure hole that extends at least partially through the support structure. A fastener comprising a shank having an outer surface passes through the composite structure hole and at least partially through the support structure hole and provides an annular space between the outer surface of the shank and the inner surface of the composite structure hole. The annular space is filled with a conductive paste that comprises conductive particles suspended in a bonding agent.

The invention relates to a hull of a vessel having characteristic surface properties, allowing an increase in surface runoff while benefiting from an inherent anti-fouling property and an original aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, the invention allows the incorporation of said outer composite envelope into the structure of the hull, thereby preventing delamination problems and inherently providing a vessel hull with the above-mentioned properties.

Cable ties including an antimicrobial component and optionally a detectable component are disclosed. More particularly, cable ties including a composition having a base plastic, an antimicrobial additive and optionally a detectable additive selected from a detectable metal additive, an X-ray detectable additive and combinations thereof as well as methods of making the same are disclosed. Also, cable ties including an antimicrobial metallic barb and a composition having a base plastic and optionally an antimicrobial additive and/or a detectable additive selected from a detectable metal additive, an X-ray detectable additive and combinations thereof are disclosed.

A masterbatch may be blended with virgin polymer to add desired color or other properties to the virgin polymer prior to further processing. Methods and processes for producing an antimicrobial and/or antiviral polymeric masterbatch that may be used to add antimicrobial, antiviral and/or antifungal properties to a virgin polymer without significantly degrading the properties of the virgin polymer. The masterbatch may be extruded into pellets or formed into other particles for subsequent blending with the virgin polymer to add antimicrobial and antiviral properties to the polymeric materials. The method includes a heat treatment after compounding the base polymer with the antimicrobial, antiviral and/or antifungal are compounded together. The heat treatment comprises heating the masterbatch blend to a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the melting point of the base polymer.

The application relates to a plastic moulding for a moulding arrangement including a housing for another plastic moulding of the moulding arrangement, wherein the housing is formed within a moulding body of the plastic moulding including a weldable material in at least some areas. It is contemplated therein that a contact element is arranged on the moulding body, the contact element at least partly including an electrically conductive material and limiting a recess of the moulding body adjoining the housing in at least some areas. The application further relates to a moulding arrangement and a method for producing a moulding arrangement.

Multicolored flexible wearables include a first portion having a first flexible polymer forming a toroid and including colorant(s), an exposed first outer surface, an exposed second outer surface, and a recess in the first outer surface not reaching the second outer surface. A second portion formed of a second flexible polymer fills a majority of the recess and includes colorant(s). The first and second flexible polymers have different colors and are permanently bonded together. Precious material particles may be disposed within the first and/or second flexible polymers. One or more of the colorants may have a color matching a color of the precious material particles. One method of bonding the portions includes depositing a liquid second portion into the recess and then curing it. Another method includes depositing a solid second portion into the recess and then curing a liquid layer of polymer between the first portion and second portion.

A method for printing electronic components is based on the hybridization of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and laser sintering. The method involves printing a layer of composite copper-based thermoplastic filament on a base. Then the filament is subjected to a laser beam so as to selectively remove the polymer matrix in a restricted area after printing to leave only the conductive particles forming a highly conductive network and sintering the conductive particles with the laser energy to reveal the conductive copper. Then, alternately repeating the printing and sintering steps on the filaments one on top of the other until a complete component of arbitrary geometry, including both insulative and conductive structures, is formed layer-by-layer.

A thermoplastic prepreg is disclosed having fully impregnated filaments. The prepreg is formed by having a plurality of continuous fibers that are substantially oriented in a longitudinal direction, the continuous fibers constituting from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, a first resinous matrix that contains a first set of one or more thermoplastic polymers and within which the continuous fibers are embedded, wherein the thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, and a second resinous matrix that contains a second set of one or more thermoplastic polymers, wherein the second set of thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg.

A braided thermoplastic ribbon is disclosed having fully impregnated filaments. The ribbon is formed by a thermoplastic prepreg having a plurality of continuous fibers that are substantially oriented in a longitudinal direction, the continuous fibers constituting from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, a first resinous matrix that contains a first set of one or more thermoplastic polymers and within which the continuous fibers are embedded, wherein the thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg, and a second resinous matrix that contains a second set of one or more thermoplastic polymers, wherein the second set of thermoplastic polymers constitute from about 30 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the prepreg.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing and injection molding conductive filaments and methods of producing and using the same are disclosed. According to an aspect, a conductive filament for 3D printing includes a material comprising polymer. The conductive filament also includes anisotropic conductive particles dispersed within the material.