In a preferred embodiment, a composite panel with a smooth outer surface, ready for painting with or without addition of primer, may be created by constructing a panel layup assembly upon a mold, the panel layup assembly including a composite panel having a core and a resin formulation, and a release film between the mold and the composite panel, where a smooth release surface of the release film is in contact with the composite panel upon construction; initiating curing of the composite panel at a first temperature within a lowermost ten percent of a curing temperature range of the resin formulation; continuing curing of the composite panel at a second temperature above the lowermost ten percent of the curing temperature range; and completing curing of the composite panel at a third temperature below the second temperature.

A process for joining fiber composite materials using self-piercing rivets. The process includes contacting first and second panels. The second panel is a fiber composite material. The process further includes elevating a temperature of only a fastening portion of the second panel. The process also includes placing the first and second panels on a die and joining the first and second panels with one or more rivets while the fastening portion is at an elevated temperature.

A container is provided with a flange defining a container opening that may help expunge food product as the film and seal head comes down on the container flange. The flange of the container opening has a predetermined angle. The container flange with its sealing surface generally deflects or angularly pivots when sealed with the film during the sealing process. The container flange and film may push product contamination from the sealing surfaces inwardly into the container. The flange may be continuous about the periphery of the container opening.

A bonded structure is made of a first member and a second member which are bonded to each other. At least one bore having an opening is formed in a surface of the first member, and the second member is filled in the bore of the first member. The bore is defined by a diameter-increasing portion whose opening size increases in a depth direction from a surface side toward a bottom of the first member, and a first diameter-decreasing portion whose opening size decreases in the depth direction from the surface side toward the bottom. The diameter-increasing portion is formed on the surface side, and the first diameter-decreasing portion is formed on a bottom side.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a blister package having a laminate structure that is heat-sealable to a lacquer layer on strain-hardened aluminum foil. The blister package includes a lid layer comprising a strain-hardened aluminum foil, a lacquer layer on a sealing surface of the strain-hardened aluminum foil and a laminate structure sealed directly to the lacquer layer. The laminate structure includes a multilayer film and a plurality of wells formed therethrough. The multilayer film includes a first formable layer of a thermoplastic material and a sealing layer of a copolyester material. The sealing layer overlies the first formable layer and has an outer surface opposite the first formable layer. The sealing layer has crystallinity from 5% to 20% as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The outer surface of the sealing layer is sealed directly against the lacquer layer.

A method of directly joining a polymer to a metal along a joint interface through the formation of C—O-M chemical bonds, where M represents an element in the metal to be joined. The method includes heating the metal to a predetermined temperature above a glass transition temperature of the polymer and less than a flash ignition temperature of the polymer and less than a metal melting temperature of the metal; physically contacting at least one of the metal and the polymer; and applying compression pressure to the joint interface of the metal and the polymer when the metal is above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and less than the flash ignition temperature of the polymer and less than the metal melting temperature of the metal to generate intimate atomic contact between the metal and the polymer to create C—O-M chemical bonds between the metal and the polymer.

A method for manufacturing a joining connection between a structural part and a metal component of a lighting device of a vehicle, the method comprising at least the following steps: Generating a microstructure in a joining surface of the metal component, the microstructure having undercuts with respect to the joining surface; Softening the plastic material of the plastic part in an area of the complementary joining surface near the surface with the aid of an introduction of heat; Pressing the plastic part and the metal component together with a pressure force in such a way that a portion of the softened plastic material penetrates the undercuts of the microstructure; and Cooling the plastic material of the plastic part, forming a new strength of the softened plastic material of the plastic part.

In a preferred embodiment, a composite panel with a smooth outer surface, ready for painting with or without addition of primer, may be created by constructing a panel layup assembly upon a mold, the panel layup assembly including a composite panel having a core and a resin formulation, and a release film between the mold and the composite panel, where a smooth release surface of the release film is in contact with the composite panel upon construction; initiating curing of the composite panel at a first temperature within a lowermost ten percent of a curing temperature range of the resin formulation; continuing curing of the composite panel at a second temperature above the lowermost ten percent of the curing temperature range; and completing curing of the composite panel at a third temperature below the second temperature.

An engine cover system, includes a metal engine cover having an opening that receives a radial shaft seal including a seal lip adapted to engage a shaft, and a plastic film adhered to the metal cover over top of the radial shaft seal.

A framed stencil for surface mount technology (SMT) is provided. The frame assembly includes a frame member and a binding insert. The frame member includes an inner perimeter portion and an outer perimeter portion that cooperates with the inner perimeter portion to define an elongated channel. The outer perimeter portion includes a first cantilever portion that extends over the elongated channel and towards the inner perimeter portion. The binding insert is configured for releasable insertion into the elongated channel. The binding insert includes a base and a tongue. The base configured to interface with a mesh substrate to facilitate coupling therebetween. The tongue is coupled to the base and extends substantially horizontally from the base. When the binding insert is inserted into the elongated channel, the tongue extending beneath the first cantilever portion to facilitate retention of the binding insert to the frame member. Methods are also provided.