A knit textile that includes a plurality of yarn that is knitted together to form the knit textile, and the knit textile defines an upper of an article of footwear. A pair of fused regions are formed along the upper, and the plurality of yarn knitted together to form the knit textile is fused to a predefined extent at the pair of fused regions. The article of footwear includes a midsole coupled to the knit textile of the upper such that the midsole is positioned adjacent to the pair of fused regions, and an outsole coupled to the midsole on an opposite side of the knit textile such that the outsole is separated from the pair of fused regions by the midsole.

The invention pertains to a composite part with a fibrous reinforcement and a thermoplastic polymer matrix, comprising: substrate part with a matrix of a first thermoplastic polymer having a first melting temperature; stiffener made of a composite material with a matrix of a second thermoplastic polymer having a second melting temperature; comprising the steps of: obtaining an unconsolidated preform of the substrate part; obtaining a preform of the stiffener; integrating a layer of the first thermoplastic polymer into the preform of the stiffener at a location configured to be in contact with the substrate part; and subjecting the substrate part and the preform of stiffener to a thermomechanical cycle so as to consolidate the substrate part and weld the stiffener to the substrate part.

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

A knitted or woven component including an upper of an article of footwear, the upper including a knitted textile that is knitted together via a plurality of yarn such that the plurality of knitted yarn at least partially forms the knitted component. The article of footwear includes a midsole coupled to the knitted textile of the upper such that the midsole is positioned adjacent to the plurality of knitted yarn that at least partially forms the knitted component of the article of footwear, and an outsole coupled to the midsole on an opposite side of the knitted textile of the upper such that the outsole is separated from the plurality of knitted yarn that at least partially forms the knitted component of the article of footwear by the midsole disposed therebetween.

A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.

A method of producing flexible polypropylene fabric bags with heat fused seams comprising providing fabric pieces, wherein each fabric piece has a coated side and an uncoated side; positioning fabric pieces so that a coated side of one fabric piece faces a coated side of another fabric piece; selecting an area of fabric to be joined for forming a seam or joint; applying heat to the area to be joined that is less than the melting point of the fabrics, for forming one or more seams or joints and wherein the heat fused seams or joints of a resulting polypropylene bag retains at least 85% of the fabric strength without using sewing machines.