A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic composite product includes: providing a first and second thermoplastic composite component made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies, said first and second component having a first and second ply drop off, respectively. The first and second components are positioned such that the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off are aligned, and the first and second components are fixedly connected by means of heating. The stacks of plies for the first and second components are constructed by stacking the plies in a stacking direction wherein the plies are arranged such that plies at a different position along the stacking direction are laterally offset relative to each other for the purpose of forming the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off, respectively, before consolidating.

A first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component including a first joint portion and a second joint portion, respectively, are provided. A least a portion of a surface area of each of the first and second joint portions include a respective first and second mating surface. The first and second mating surfaces of the respective first and second joint portions are positioned in contact with one another. The first and second joint portions are fusion joined. Fusion joining the first and second joint portions forms a fused unitary portion of the first and second thermoplastic components.

In a manufacturing method of a resin composite plate for manufacturing a resin composite plate by heating under pressure a resin sheet group having a plurality of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin sheets stacked together, and thereby integrating the resin sheet group into one resin composite plate, the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin sheets each containing fibers arranged in one direction, the resin composite plate having a desired thickness is manufactured by stacking the plurality of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin sheets having different thickness.

A joining method for connecting at least two thermoplastic workpieces is provided to permit the joining even of non-transparent carbon fiber reinforced plastics parts by means of laser welding, in which a splice is produced at the edge regions of the workpieces and the workpieces are subsequently positioned relative to one another in such a manner that the opposite splice regions bound a seam region. Connecting bodies are then inserted into the seam region and heated by means of local heat input by laser beam such that a fixed integrally bonded connection forms between the workpieces and the connecting bodies.

The invention relates to a high-strength and permanently elastic curable adhesive for bonding at least two surfaces, of which at least one surface is a surface of a permanently elastic plastic wherein the adhesive is an adhesive that cures in at least two different hardening mechanisms, wherein the first hardening mechanism comprises a chemical reaction to form a chemical bond including a sulphur atom, and the second hardening mechanism comprises the formation of crystalline structures from amorphous polymers. The invention also relates to a method for high-strength and permanently elastic bonding of at least two surfaces to one another, of which at least one surface is that of a permanently elastic plastic, by means of such an adhesive, said method comprising the steps of: applying the adhesive to at least a first of the surfaces to be connected, ensuring conditions under which at least the first hardening mechanism of the adhesive can take place, bringing the first surface into contact with the second surface, and ensuring conditions under which the second hardening mechanism of the adhesive can take place.

Composite laminate structures are produced using partially cured parts. Partial curing of the parts is achieved by applying a catalyst to regions of the parts that are to be fully cured. These regions cure at a lower-than-normal temperature while remaining regions of the part remain uncured, allowing them to be co-bonded or co-cured to other structures.

An enclosure for an electronic device includes a housing having wall defining a cavity that is configured to receive an electronic assembly therein. The wall includes a plurality of housing steps formed in an interior surface. A cap includes a side surface extending around a perimeter of the cap with a plurality of cap steps formed in the side surface. The cap is positioned at an entrance to the cavity such that the plurality of housing steps align with the plurality of cap steps and welded in place. Flash from the weld is captured in a flash trap so that no weld flash is visible on the exterior surface of the enclosure.

Composite laminate structures are produced using partially cured parts. Partial curing of the parts is achieved by applying a catalyst to regions of the parts that are to be fully cured. These regions cure at a lower-than-normal temperature while remaining regions of the part remain uncured, allowing them to be co-bonded or co-cured to other structures.

The invention provides improvements to electrofusion fitting methods that allow for continuity and repeatability of welds between an electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining (or stand-alone pipe). An electrofusion fitting for joining sections of lined pipe has heating elements configured to create at least one weld between the electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining. However, prior to the weld step taking place the electrofusion fitting is heated and expands accordingly to ensure contact with the pipe lining. Preheating the electrofusion fitting also provides a predetermined starting temperature for the fitting and the lining which results in improved fusion cycle reliability. Furthermore, the need for clamps or support frames to support the electrofusion fitting in situ is removed, with corresponding reductions in cycle times, complexity, and hence cost.

A prefabricated fairing for a wind turbine blade comprising fairing lips and exterior and interior fairing surfaces, wherein the fairing has a first fairing state in which the fairing is adapted to be mounted to a blade body of the wind turbine blade and a second fairing state in which the fairing is adapted to be fixed to the blade body, the fairing lips being compressed towards each other in the second fairing state relative to the first fairing state, wherein the fairing is brought from the first fairing state to the second fairing state upon application of a compression force onto the exterior fairing surface at fairing lips, wherein a difference between a first fairing lip distance in the first fairing state and a second fairing lip distance in the second fairing state is equal to or greater than 5 mm.