A method for plasma treating a surface of a first substrate is disclosed. The method may comprise generating a plasma flume using a plasma treatment device having a nozzle. The plasma flume may emanate through a flume aperture of the nozzle at an emanation angle of about 5 degrees or less. The emanation angle may be defined as an angle between a central axis of the nozzle and a central axis of the flume aperture. The method may further comprise plasma treating the surface of the first substrate with the plasma flume by scanning the plasma flume over the surface of the first substrate. The first substrate may be one of a consolidated thermoplastic material and a cured thermoset material.

An article of apparel, sporting equipment, or footwear incorporates a component formed of a UV radiation curable material. In the case of an article of footwear, the UV radiation curable material may be formed into an outsole. The method of manufacturing such articles includes shaping one or more pieces of an ultraviolet (UV) radiation curable material; placing the shaped UV radiation curable material in direct contact with a surface of a textile; using heat or pressure or both to adhere the shaped UV radiation curable material to the surface of the textile, and curing at least a portion of the shaped UV radiation curable material adhered to the surface of the textile by exposing the shaped UV radiation curable material to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thereby forming an article comprising UV radiation cured material bonded to the surface of the textile.

A hinged component fabrication method in which, in a layup stage of fabrication, the component includes a live hinge joining uncured material portions together at a hinge region and comprising a layer of tensile fabric at least partially infiltrated by an uncured elastomer layer at least partially interposed between the tensile fabric and the uncured material portions such that the uncured elastomer blocks the uncured material portions from infiltrating the hinge region. The method may include locating overlapped tensile fabric and elastomer layers in a tool and introducing polymer-based material into the tool such that polymer-based material portions overlap respective opposite ends of the fabric and elastomer layers. The polymer-based material portions are formed to a desired shape using the forming tool so that the fabric and elastomer layers form a live hinge between the polymer-based material portions.

Disclosed is a composite beam structure having: an end piece, an end piece outer periphery surface, and an end piece mating end defining an end piece axial boundary, the end piece includes wedge-shaped inner locking features that are formed to project outwardly from the end piece outer periphery surface at the end piece mating end and are spaced apart from one another in the hoop direction; and a composite tube configured to surround at least a portion of the end piece mating end to form a beam joint, wedge-shaped imprints are formed through the composite tube, corresponding to the wedge-shaped inner locking features, the wedge-shaped imprints define respective composite tube wedge-shaped depression surfaces about a composite tube inner periphery and composite tube wedge-shaped boss surfaces about a composite tube outer periphery, and the wedge-shaped inner locking features of the end piece are covered by the composite tube wedge-shaped depression surfaces.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

A method of making a non-pneumatic tire, the non-pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting annular tread portion comprising a tread rubber composition, a shear band comprising a cord reinforced rubber composition and disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and at least one spoke disk disposed radially inward of the shear band; wherein the spoke disk has an outer ring, and an inner ring, and a first and second spoke extending radially between the outer ring and the inner ring, wherein the first and second spokes are connected at a joint; the method comprising the steps of: applying a curable adhesive as an interface between a radially outermost surface of the spoke disk and a radially innermost surface of the shear band in its uncured state; assembling the tread portion in an uncured state, the shear band in an uncured state, and the at least one spoke disk to form an pre-assembly; and curing the pre-assembly.

A method for forming a composite part of a gas turbine engine. The method includes assembling the composite part of a first composite material and a second composite material. The second composite material defines an outer surface of the composite part, and is selected to be curable at a cure temperature generated by heat from operation of the engine. The first composite material is selected to have an operating temperature limit less than the cure temperature. The method includes placing the composite part within the engine so that, in use, the second composite material is cured by exposure to the heat generated from operation of the engine. The second composite material thermally shields the first composite material from the heat generated from operation of the engine. The method includes operating the engine to cure the second composite material.

A method for joining a first component and a second component. The method includes forming a first bond between the first component and the second component by providing a plurality of projections on the first component and embedding the plurality of projections in the second component; creating a fastener hole which passes through the first component and the second component and which encompasses at least one of the projections; and forming a second bond between the first component and the second component by installing a fastener in the fastener hole.

A method and an apparatus for welding a first object to a second object, wherein the first object is produced from a thermoset and comprises a thermoplastic material outer layer, wherein the second object comprises at least one thermoplastic material outer layer. In addition, a layer of carbon nanotubes is applied to the thermoplastic material outer layer of the first object, and the second object is placed onto the first object. At least some of the thermoplastic material outer layer of the second object lies atop the applied layer of carbon nanotubes. In addition, a potential is applied to the layer of carbon nanotubes, such that an electrical current flows through the carbon nanotubes, wherein the thermoplastic material outer layer of the first object and the thermoplastic material outer layer of the second object are heated and are welded to one another.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.