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.

An exemplary air cushion inflation machine includes: a first terminal connected to a direct current input; a second terminal; a reference resistor powered by the direct current input; an op-amp; and a transistor. The first terminal of the op-amp is connected to a variable voltage source and the second terminal of the op-amp is connected to the reference resistor. The transistor has a base connected to an output of the op-amp, an emitter connected to the reference resistor, and a collector connected to a first terminal of a sealing band apparatus having first and second terminals. A meltable material placed between the first and second terminals is melted by resistance of current flowing between the first and second terminals. The variable voltage source changes voltage based on a voltage drop measured across the first and second terminals by a voltage measurement device and the constant current.

A heat-seal band is provided that incorporates voltage sensing wires, such as signal wires or conductors that are separate from current load carrying wires or conductors. This provides two discrete electrical paths: a voltage sensing path, and a current transmission path. The voltage signal conductor(s) in the voltage sensing path may be insulated to mitigate any non-desired influence by means of the voltage signal conductor's exposure to thermal or electrical influences from the current transmission path, including current transmission paths defined through conductive tabs that connect the heat-seal band to the current load conductors. The voltage signal conductor may connect at a node to the tab to band (tab/band) junction, which is defined at an intersection of the heat-seal band's conductive tab and the band that directs heat into a workpiece. Additional or a second set of voltage sensing conductors may be electrically connected to the heat-seal band at a location that is spaced from or in a subset of the first set of voltage sensing conductors. The second set of voltage sensing conductors may provide a secondary voltage sensing arrangement as a verification tool for evaluating temperature discrepancies between their locations and those of the first set, indicative of heating non-uniformity about the heat-seal band.

A film-closure apparatus is provided which is suitable for closing plastic film material using heat. The apparatus comprises a guide path along which at least part of a plastics film material can pass; a drive means for moving the film material along the guide path; and a printed circuit board comprising a circuit substrate having first and second major board surfaces and a perimeter edge surface, and an electrically conductive heating element which is provided on the circuit substrate along at least part of the perimeter edge surface. The electrically conductive heating element is positionable on the guide path to apply heat to the film material thereon.

An array of resilient floor tiles is assembled into a continuous sheet after being laid down. An array of included, sacrificial resistive wires is buried along the edges of the tiles and is controllably heated in order to cause welding of the edges of tiles across the paths of the wires to neighboring tiles. Subsequently the wires may be used to give the array integral tensile strength. The welded array is provided with greater strength for resisting use, expansive and contractile forces caused by environmental heat and cold and also long-term tile contraction owing to loss of plasticizer as may be seen with PVC-based tiles.