Improvements in the extrusion of thermohardenable materials are achieved by cooling the material in the initial zone of the extruder and reducing residence time by use of a prescribed length to diameter ratio and screw speed, particularly useful for intermittent application during robotically controlled mass production.

A filament is fed to an extrusion head. The filament has a semi-crystalline polymeric reinforcement portion and a polymeric matrix portion. The reinforcement and matrix portions run continuously along a length of the filament. The reinforcement portion has a higher melting point and a higher crystallinity than the matrix portion. The temperature of the filament is raised in the extrusion head above the melting point of the matrix portion but below the melting point of the reinforcement portion so that the matrix portion of the filament melts within the extrusion head, thereby forming a partially molten filament within the extrusion head. The partially molten filament is extruded from the extrusion head onto a substrate, the reinforcement portion of the partially molten filament remaining in a semi-crystalline state as it is extruded from the extrusion head. Relative movement is generated between the extrusion head and the substrate as the partially molten filament is extruded onto the substrate in order to form an extruded line on the substrate. The matrix portion of the extruded line solidifies after the extruded line has been formed on the substrate.

A hybrid-type door outside belt for a vehicle utilizes different materials for a skin layer of a skin body that is mounted to an upper end of a door panel and a main wing that is moved by contacting the door glass, the skin layer of the skin body being made of a material having excellent scratch-resistance, and the main wing being made of a material having excellent compression set (deformation).

A hybrid-type door outside belt for a vehicle utilizes different materials for a skin layer of a skin body that is mounted to an upper end of a door panel and a main wing that is moved by contacting the door glass, the skin layer of the skin body being made of a material having excellent scratch-resistance, and the main wing being made of a material having excellent compression set (deformation).

Disclosed are an entrained polymer or an entrained polymer composition, and a method for forming and adhering an entrained polymer structure to a substrate using the entrained polymer or an entrained polymer composition. The method includes providing a substrate configured to receive application of a molten entrained polymer. A particulate entrained polymer in molten form is applied in a predetermined shape, to a surface of the substrate, to form a solidified entrained polymer structure on the substrate. The entrained polymer includes a monolithic material formed of at least abase polymer and a particulate active agent. The surface of the substrate is compatible with the molten entrained polymer so as to thermally bond with it. In this way, the entrained polymer bonds to the substrate and solidifies upon sufficient cooling of the entrained polymer.

Disclosed are an entrained polymer or an entrained polymer composition, and a method for forming and adhering an entrained polymer structure to a substrate using the entrained polymer or an entrained polymer composition. The method includes providing a substrate configured to receive application of a molten entrained polymer. A particulate entrained polymer in molten form is applied in a predetermined shape, to a surface of the substrate, to form a solidified entrained polymer structure on the substrate. The entrained polymer includes a monolithic material formed of at least abase polymer and a particulate active agent. The surface of the substrate is compatible with the molten entrained polymer so as to thermally bond with it. In this way, the entrained polymer bonds to the substrate and solidifies upon sufficient cooling of the entrained polymer.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods relating to the application of composite radius filler materials. An example material feed system includes a material container configured to contain a composite material and a material feed actuator. The material feed system also includes a nozzle coupled to the material container and a workpiece sensor configured to provide information about a workpiece. The material feed system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the workpiece sensor, workpiece information. The workpiece information is indicative of at least one surface of the workpiece. The controller is also configured to, based on the workpiece information, cause the material feed actuator to apply a force to the composite material contained in the material container so as to extrude at least a portion of the composite material out of the nozzle and onto a surface of the workpiece.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods relating to the application of composite radius filler materials. An example material feed system includes a material container configured to contain a composite material and a material feed actuator. The material feed system also includes a nozzle coupled to the material container and a workpiece sensor configured to provide information about a workpiece. The material feed system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the workpiece sensor, workpiece information. The workpiece information is indicative of at least one surface of the workpiece. The controller is also configured to, based on the workpiece information, cause the material feed actuator to apply a force to the composite material contained in the material container so as to extrude at least a portion of the composite material out of the nozzle and onto a surface of the workpiece.

A flexible tube production apparatus includes a die composed of: a cylindrical inner die having an outer face in which a groove is formed; a tubular member that is housed inside the inner die, and has a through-hole that allows a blade wire to be inserted from one end to the other end thereof; and an outer die that surrounds the inner die such that a predetermined gap is generated between itself and the outer face of the inner die, and has an extrusion hole that extrudes the resins having been supplied to the gap, onto the outer face of the blade wire that is fed from the other end of the tubular member. A resin supply portion supplies a first resin and a second resin to the die while the motor rotates the inner die about a center axis.