A process for producing a thermoplastic composite pipe, where the process includes: a) providing a tubular liner having a wall containing a thermoplastic polymer A in the region of the outer surface; b) providing a tape containing reinforcing fibres in a matrix containing a thermoplastic polymer B, where polymer A and polymer B are different; c) applying a film or a composite which is produced in d) and is composed of a film and a tape provided in step b) to the tubular liner, with melting of the outer surface of the liner and of the contact surface of the film either beforehand, simultaneously or thereafter, d) applying the tape provided in b) to the outer surface of the film, with melting of the outer surface of the film applied and of the contact surface of the tape either beforehand, simultaneously or thereafter,
where the surface of the film which is brought into contact with the liner contains a moulding compound containing polymer A to an extent of at least 30% by weight, and the opposite surface of the film contains a moulding compound containing polymer B to an extent of at least 30% by weight.

An apparatus is described for securing an edge of the material to a support surface. A guide surface is positioned adjacent the edge to be secured. A weld head engages the edge of the material in a plurality of locations. A drive mechanism advances the weld head on the guide surface. The weld head engages the edge of the material and transfers energy to secure the edge of material in the desired position on the support surface.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for joining a longitudinal seam in a tube, to an apparatus and method of joining a longitudinal seam in a tube in a borehole, to an apparatus and method of repairing a tube and to a pig. In an aspect an apparatus is provided for joining a longitudinal seam in a tube. The apparatus (200) includes a spool (202) for progressively unwinding a coiled member (10) into an extended form (12). The member (10) transitions from a flat form when coiled (11) to a slit tube form when extended (12), in which form the member is resiliently biased. A joining device (214) is positioned downstream of the spool arranged to provide energy to a portion of the member in its extended form to cause heating so as to progressively join together the longitudinal edges of the slit tube as the member passes the joining device. A longitudinal seam (20) is thereby formed in the tube.

A thermoplastic product includes a fabric-based reinforcing sheet and a polymerized thermoplastic material. The fabric-based reinforcing sheet is wound about a mandrel to form a plurality of layers having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the mandrel. The fabric-based reinforcing sheet includes a plurality of fiber bundles, which may have a bidirectional orientation or configuration. A polymerized thermoplastic material is disposed within each layer of the fabric-based reinforcing sheet. The polymerized thermoplastic material bonds each layer of the fabric-based reinforcing sheet to an adjacent layer.

Joints, such as adhesive and welded thermoplastic joints, comprising embedded and/or surface mounted components of a sensor system are provided. The embedded and/or surface mounted component can be an optical fiber. Strain and/or stress can be monitored in the joint in a spatially resolved manner periodically or continuously, for example, to warn of potential failure of the joint or estimate residual/remaining life of a bonded component. The stress and/or strain information can also be used to improve the design of the joint. Methods and systems for monitoring stress and/or strain in a joint, and methods of preparing the joints are provided, as well.

A method for optimizing a welding process to produce a weld joint having a predetermined strength includes measuring a plurality of melt layer thicknesses of weld joints for a plurality of sample assemblies formed by the welding process, measuring a plurality failure loads of weld joints for the plurality of sample assemblies, each of the measured plurality of failures loads being associated with one of the measured plurality of melt layer thicknesses, selecting a first failure load from the plurality of measured failure loads responsive to determining that the first failure load corresponds to a predetermined weld strength, and selecting a first melt layer thickness from the plurality of measured melt layer thicknesses that is associated with the selected first measured failure load.

A device for joining a lens to a housing of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, having a receptacle device for accommodating and securing the housing, a pre-centering device for aligning and clamping the lens on the housing during an alignment procedure, and having a holding device for accommodating the lens after the alignment procedure and for holding the lens during an adjustment process, wherein the holding device is releasably attached to the pre-centering device by fastening elements during the alignment operation, and wherein the pre-centering device, together with the accommodated lens and the holding device attached to the pre-centering device is movable relative to the receptacle device during the alignment procedure such that the lens and the holding device can be aligned on the housing accommodated in the receptacle device.

A method for joining a lens to a housing of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, in which the housing is accommodated and secured in a receptacle device. The method includes accommodating the lens in a pre-centering device, aligning the lens towards the housing during an alignment procedure and accommodating the lens by a holding device after the alignment procedure. The method further includes holding the lens by the holding device during a subsequent joining process, releasably attaching the holding device to the pre-centering device, aligning, via fastening elements, during the alignment procedure and moving the accommodated lens and the holding device attached to the pre-centering device relative to the receptacle device such that the lens and the holding device are aligned on the housing accommodated in the receptacle device.

The invention is a hybrid composite material between a first joining partner having a metal surface and a second joining partner having a polymeric material surface. A process for producing a hybrid composite material associated therewith is also described. The hybrid composite material according to the invention is characterized in that the metal surface has microstructured depressions, having a diameter and a structure depth in the micrometer range, the microstructured depressions have metallic surface regions which are furnished entirely with nanostructures, the structure dimensions of which are in the nanometer range, the microstructured depressions are blind holes or throughhole openings fully passing through the first joining partner.

A fencing material includes a border material including a first polymer and having an interior surface; and a mesh material having a front and a back, a portion of at least one of the front and the back being bonded to the interior surface of the border material.