A profile body of a not liquefiable material is used as a connecting element between a first object and a second object. The profile body may especially be metallic and/or may be bendable. The profile body, in contrast to a conventional wire, however, has a shape defining a first and a second undercut. The method includes embedding the profile body in the second object so that the second undercut is within material of the second object, and embedding the profile body within material of the first object so that the first undercut is within the first object, and wherein at least embedding of the profile body in the first object is caused by mechanical energy impinging on the first object and/or on the second object while the first object and the second object are pressed against each other.

A method for forming a vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The method includes conforming a planar body of fibre reinforced material (CFRM) (504), such as a sheet or unidirectional tape, to a shape of a shape defining member (506, 900). In effect, the shape defining member (506, 900) is a core that defines an internal volume of a closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The CFRM material (504) comprises continuous fibres in a synthetic matrix. The method further includes bonding a first edge portion (510) of the CFRM body (504) to a second edge portion (512) of the CFRM body (504) thereby to form the closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). An apparatus (800) for implementing the method, and components (e.g. vehicle reinforcing members (26, 28, 30), vehicle seats (10) and so forth) formed using the method are also described.

According to a manufacturing method and device for manufacturing a composite material having reinforced base materials with a resin impregnated in the reinforced base materials. An unactivated powdered adhesive is applied to at least one surface of a plurality of carbon fiber sheets. The carbon fiber sheets are laminated to form a laminate. At least a portion of the unactivated powdered adhesive that is applied between layers of the laminate is removed using an airflow that flows from one exterior surface of the laminate to an opposite exterior surface of the laminate to form a preform having a first region in which the activated adhesive is impregnated in the laminate, and a second region in which a content density of the activated adhesive is less than that in the first region.

An article comprising: a carrier (12), activatable material (14) disposed on the carrier, one or more carrier extensions (16) extending from the carrier; wherein the article is adapted to provide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.

A method for manufacturing a heating mat for a motor vehicle. The method includes the following steps: providing a heating ply having a deformable structure and two heating elements inserted into the structure, said two heating elements being separated by a deformation area of the structure; stacking the heating ply between an upper layer and a lower layer, wherein at least one of the heating ply and the upper and lower layers includes a thermoformable material; assembling the stack by at least one fastening rod; and thermoforming the stack thus assembled, so as to secure the heating ply and the upper and lower layers into a single piece; and stretching the deformation area in the stacking direction.

A method of manufacturing a flexible element configured for pressing against composite material received on a mold surface of a mold during cure, including placing a porous material over the mold surface, forming a sealed enclosure containing the mold surface and the porous material, infusing a curable liquid material such as silicone in liquid form into the enclosure under vacuum and through the porous material, curing the liquid material to form the flexible element, and opening the enclosure and disengaging the flexible element from the mold. In a particular embodiment, the flexible element is a pressure pad.

Are disclosed a thermoplastic material for vehicle interior or exterior having not only excellent strength in winter but also excellent sound-absorption and heat-resistance, a method for preparing the same and an article for vehicle interior or exterior using the same. A method for producing a thermoplastic material for interior or exterior of vehicle, comprising the steps of: forming a fiber sheet or web by randomly arranging fibers having a length of 50 mm or more, the fibers being selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, aramid fibers and mixtures thereof; applying polyethylene powders to one side or both sides of the fiber sheet or web; forming a fiber reinforced mat by heating and pressing the fiber sheet or web to which the polyethylene powders are applied; and laminating the fiber reinforced mat on one side or both sides of a polypropylene base.

A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.

A sealing device for sealing edges of composite fiber components includes a strip feeder to apply a thermoplastic semifinished product to a cut edge of a composite fiber component, and an ultrasonic welding apparatus to thermoplastically or integrally join the thermoplastic semifinished product to the cut edge of the composite fiber component by ultrasonic welding.