A process for producing an electrical conductor structure that involves embedding at least one metallic conductor track and at least one heating conductor in an electrically insulating substrate, and producing an electric current in the heating conductor so that a first layer of the substrate and a second layer of the substrate fuse in an area surrounding the heating conductor, to seal an interface between the two layers. A conductor structure is also disclosed, in particular in the form of an implantable electrode lead.

Electrofusion tape and method for the production thereof for welding together with plastics pipes in particular for use in a fixed-point fastening, consisting of a jacket element preferably of an electrically insulating plastics material, at least one heating element of electrically conductive plastics material and at least two contact elements for supplying electricity to the heating element, wherein the jacket element and the heating element take the form of tapes, wherein the jacket element surrounds the heating element at least in part, wherein the contact elements are arranged in the mutually opposing marginal regions of the heating element and extend parallel to one another along the heating element.

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.

A method for joining primary and secondary members includes providing a primary member, a secondary member and a heating element which is joined to one of the primary and secondary members. The heating element includes an electrically insulating matrix material and an electrically conductive reinforcing element extending through the matrix material. The method further includes bringing the other of the primary and secondary members and the heating element into engagement and controlling a flow of electrical current in the reinforcing element so as to resistively heat and fuse at least some of the matrix material of the heating element with a matrix material of the other of the primary and secondary members. The method may be used to join a primary member such as a composite tubular and a secondary member such as a component for terminating the composite tubular.

Systems and methods are provided for composite part fabrication. One embodiment is a method that includes placing a laminate onto a base of a mandrel between side walls of the mandrel, placing edge dams between the side walls and the laminate that each abut the laminate and abut one of the side walls, each edge dam having a Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) greater than a CTE of the mandrel, the CTE of the mandrel being greater than a CTE of the laminate, heating the laminate, edge dams, and mandrel, and during the heating, thermally expanding the edge dams an amount that corresponds with a difference in thermal expansion between the laminate and the mandrel.

Thermoplastic assemblies, methods of defining thermoplastic assemblies, aircraft that include the thermoplastic assemblies, and aircraft that are formed utilizing the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include heating a joining structure and pressing a thermoplastic layer against a base of the joining structure. The pressing includes transferring thermal energy from the joining structure to the thermoplastic layer and penetrating the thermoplastic layer with a plurality of reinforcing projections of the joining structure. The pressing also includes adhering the thermoplastic layer to a surface of the base and to a surface of the plurality of reinforcing projections. The thermoplastic assemblies include the thermoplastic layer and the joining structure.

Thermoplastic assemblies, methods of defining thermoplastic assemblies, aircraft that include the thermoplastic assemblies, and aircraft that are formed utilizing the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include heating a joining structure and pressing a thermoplastic layer against a base of the joining structure. The pressing includes transferring thermal energy from the joining structure to the thermoplastic layer and penetrating the thermoplastic layer with a plurality of reinforcing projections of the joining structure. The pressing also includes adhering the thermoplastic layer to a surface of the base and to a surface of the plurality of reinforcing projections. The thermoplastic assemblies include the thermoplastic layer and the joining structure.

A joining apparatus is an apparatus for performing joining of a joining target object including multiple members stacked on each other and a thermosetting adhesive arranged on joining target portions of the multiple members. The joining apparatus includes a first electrode; a second electrode; a pressurization mechanism configured to cause the first and second electrodes to pressure-contact the surface of the joining target object in the vicinity of the joining target portions; a power source configured to distribute power to between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a control unit configured to distribute the power to between both electrodes by the power source in a state in which the first electrode and the second electrode pressure-contact the surface by the pressurization mechanism, thereby performing joining of the joining target object by curing of the thermosetting adhesive by resistance heating generated at the joining target object.

A process for producing an electrical conductor structure that involves embedding at least one metallic conductor track and at least one heating conductor in an electrically insulating substrate, and producing an electric current in the heating conductor so that a first layer of the substrate and a second layer of the substrate fuse in an area surrounding the heating conductor, to seal an interface between the two layers. A conductor structure is also disclosed, in particular in the form of an implantable electrode lead.

Electrofusion tape and method for the production thereof for welding together with plastics pipes in particular for use in a fixed-point fastening, consisting of a jacket element preferably of an electrically insulating plastics material, at least one heating element of electrically conductive plastics material and at least two contact elements for supplying electricity to the heating element, wherein the jacket element and the heating element take the form of tapes, wherein the jacket element surrounds the heating element at least in part, wherein the contact elements are arranged in the mutually opposing marginal regions of the heating element and extend parallel to one another along the heating element.