A process for welding a first molding to a second molding. The process uses an implement including first and second external surfaces. Each external surface further includes a duct. An end of the first molding is heated by a hot gas while the end is at a distance from the duct-entry plane in the range from 3 mm outside the duct to 10 mm inside the duct. A junction area of the second molding is heated by a hot gas while the junction area is at a distance from the duct-entry plane in a range from 3 mm outside the duct to 10 mm inside the duct. The heated end and the heated junction area are then brought into contact with one another and cooled, forming a weld between the first molding and the second molding. Also disclosed is a welded molding obtainable by the process of the invention.

A method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid distribution system is described. A distal end portion of the tube is heated then pushed over a sleeve so that the distal end portion can have a shrink seal fit over the sleeve to mitigate accidental or inadvertent pull out of the tube from a fitting. Other benefits are also achieved such as minimal flow restriction of the liquid flowing through the joint and the tube.

A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

The invention relates to an intermediate material (132) for the manufacture of composite components, having a prepreg layer (116) and an interleaving layer (120) made up of at least two sections of thermally joined thermoplastic interleaving material sections (120a, 120b). The invention also relates to a method of manufacture of such an intermediate material.

A method for manufacturing a flexible metal-clad laminated plate includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a laminated body by laminating a polyimide resin film including a non-thermoplastic polyimide layer and an adhesive layer containing thermoplastic polyimide, the adhesive layer being provided on at least one side of the non-thermoplastic polyimide layer, and a metal foil; and (b) subjecting the laminated body obtained in the step (a) to heat treatment under an inert gas atmosphere and a pressure of 0.20 to 0.98 MPa at a temperature of a glass transition temperature Tg of the thermoplastic polyimide20 C. to the glass transition temperature Tg+50 C.

Methods and apparatuses for bonding polymeric parts are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, the polymeric parts are bonded by plastically deforming them against each other while they are below the glass transition temperatures.

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 glass and polymer film assembly including a glass film and a polymer film bonded to a surface of the glass film. The polymer film is directly bonded to the glass film by applying the polymer to the glass film when the glass film is above a bonding temperature of the polymer film. The glass film may have a thickness less than about 1 mm and the polymer film may be an oriented semicrystalline homopolymer which is permanently bonded to a major surface of the glass film.

A medical device includes a balloon expanded scaffold crimped to a catheter having a balloon. The scaffold has a network of rings formed by struts connected at crowns and links connecting adjacent rings. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes using protective polymer sheaths or sheets during crimping, and adjusting the sheaths or sheets during the crimping to avoid or minimize interference between the polymer material and scaffold struts as the scaffold is reduced in size.

An aerospace vessel including a fuselage, a means for causing the fuselage to fly coupled to the fuselage, and an environmental control system within the fuselage. The environmental control system includes a duct made of closed cell thermoplastic foam, such as polyvinylidene fluoride foam.