Provided is a laser welded body which can be integrated through a laser-welding step without undergoing complicated steps even through use of the same or difference resin members each other, which has excellent welding strength between the resin members, which maintains the characteristics of a resin contained in the resin member and which exhibits the high welding strength by improving meltability of the resin members yet under a laser-welding condition of a medium and high scan speed. A laser welded body comprises a resin member(s) which contains a thermoplastic resin and nigrosine sulfate having a sulfate ion concentration of 0.3 to 5.0% by mass and has an absorbance a of 0.09 to 0.9, an adjoined part where the resin member(s) is overlapped and/or butted, and at least a part of the adjoined part is laser-welded.

Provided is a laser welded body which can be integrated through a laser-welding step without undergoing complicated steps even through use of the same or difference resin members each other, which has excellent welding strength between the resin members, which maintains the characteristics of a resin contained in the resin member and which exhibits the high welding strength by improving meltability of the resin members yet under a laser-welding condition of a medium and high scan speed.

A laser welded body comprises a resin member(s) which contains a thermoplastic resin and nigrosine sulfate having a sulfate ion concentration of 0.3 to 5.0% by mass and has an absorbance a of 0.09 to 0.9, an adjoined part where the resin member(s) is overlapped and/or butted, and at least a part of the adjoined part is laser-welded.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding. The method includes initiating induction welding by operating an induction coil along a weld interface of a first composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, in order to join the first composite part to a second composite part, determining a measured magnetic field strength at a location distinct from the induction coil, and determining a welding temperature at the weld interface of the first composite part based on the measured magnetic field strength.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding of a composite part. The method includes locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, measuring temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line, determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures.

A method and apparatus for fabricating a composite structure. The method comprises defining a shape for the composite structure with a first face sheet. The method places core sections on the shape defined by the first face sheet. The method places an adhesive in a group of joint cavities. The method places a second face sheet on the core sections placed on the first face sheet, wherein the first face sheet, the core sections, and the second face sheet, define a structural assembly in which the group of joint cavities are present. The method cures the structural assembly with the adhesive in the group of joint cavities to fabricate the composite structure in which the adhesive fills the group of joint cavities when the adhesive is cured.

A welding apparatus is suitable for welding polymeric materials, and particularly but not exclusively those that may be thin or brittle. A welding apparatus is provided for welding polymeric materials along a weld zone of the polymeric material. The welding apparatus has a carrier for supplying heat to the weld zone to cause melting of the polymeric material, wherein the heating element is arranged to reciprocate relative to the carrier between a retracted and an extended configuration, such that as the element moves from the retracted to the extended configuration the heating element melts and penetrates the surface of the polymeric material. The carrier also has a trailing contact surface trailing the heating element along the weld zone arranged to constrain molten polymeric material in the weld zone. The heating element is also arranged to reciprocate relative to the trailing contact surface.

Composite components having a T or L-shaped configuration that include features that reduce void defects between abutting laminate portions and provide improved mechanical properties are provided. Methods for forming such components are also provided. In one exemplary aspect, a composite component defines a first direction and a second direction and includes a wedged-shaped noodle at a joint interface between an abutting first laminate portion extending along the first direction and a second laminate portion extending along the second direction. The noodle has a first surface that is angled with respect to the second direction. At least one of the plies of the second laminate portion terminate and attach to the angled first surface of the noodle.

A method and apparatus for fabricating a composite structure. The method comprises defining a shape for the composite structure with a first face sheet. The method places core sections on the shape defined by the first face sheet. The method places an adhesive in a group of joint cavities. The method places a second face sheet on the core sections placed on the first face sheet, wherein the first face sheet, the core sections, and the second face sheet, define a structural assembly in which the group of joint cavities are present. The method cures the structural assembly with the adhesive in the group of joint cavities to fabricate the composite structure in which the adhesive fills the group of joint cavities when the adhesive is cured.

A method for connecting components having a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic plastic includes provision of a first component with a first joining surface, provision of a second component with a second joining surface, flush placement of the first joining surface against the second joining surface in order to form a connection joint, placement of a friction stir welding tool against the connection joint, or a surface directly adjacent thereto, of at least one of the components, softening of the first component and the second component, in each case in a region adjacent to the connection joint, by rotation of the tool, such that the thermoplastic plastic of the two components locally fuses, and movement of the tool along the connection joint for the purposes of connecting the two components by formation of a fusion seam, wherein portions of reinforcement fibres are stirred in to increase the strength of the fusion seam.

A stitchless highly oriented polypropylene fabric bulk bag of the type that can hold 500 to 5000 pounds (226.7 to 2268 kilograms) of bulk material includes a highly oriented polypropylene fabric top, body and bottom, with a heat fused joint providing an air tight connection between the top and body, and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the body and bottom. A fill spout and discharge tube may also be provided with an air tight heat fused joint connecting the fill spout to the top and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the discharge spout to the bottom. Heat sealing machinery include heat seal bar assemblies that can self-align during heat-sealing to apply even pressure to all areas being heat sealed. A heating element is of single piece construction and can include end coupler portions as part of the single piece construction. Carrier plates used in a heat-sealing assembly line guide parts placement, provide quality checks for parts placement, and tooling set-up for machinery.