A heating element for resistance welding of thermoplastic components includes an electrically conductive sheet with cut-outs, wherein a ratio of cut-outs to electrically conductive sheet changes at least along a transverse direction of the sheet, so that an electrical resistance of the sheet has a maximum at a center of the sheet. A welding kit includes the heating element and an electrical insulation layer. A method of manufacturing the heating element, and a method of employing the heating element for welding two thermoplastic components to one another are disclosed.

Provided is a welding method including: a sheet disposition process of disposing a first and a second protection sheet such that the first and the second protection sheet come into contact with a first and a second composite material and disposing an energization sheet such that the energization sheet comes into contact with the first and the second protection sheet; and a welding process of applying a voltage to a pair of electrode portions disposed at the energization sheet and welding the first and the second composite material, the energization sheet contains the carbon fiber base material oriented in a first predetermined direction connecting the pair of electrode portions, and the first and the second protection sheet contain the carbon fiber base material oriented in a second predetermined direction that substantially perpendicularly intersects the first predetermined direction.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

The invention relates to a process (100) for manufacturing an object (1) made of thermoplastic polymer composite from at least two parts (10) made of thermoplastic polymer composite, said thermoplastic polymer composite comprising a fibrous reinforcement and a thermoplastic polymer matrix, said process comprising the steps of: arranging (120) the two parts (10) made of thermoplastic polymer composite adjacently or overlapping at an assembly interface zone (11), and heating (130) to melt the thermoplastic polymer matrix at said assembly interface zone (11), so as to form an object (1) made of thermoplastic polymer composite comprising a welded interface (12).

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 of securing a first component part and a second component part together, the method comprising providing an electrically conductive member between a first surface of the first component part and a facing first surface of the second component part and securing the first and second components together by passing a current through the electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member is distributed across at least 50% of the surface area of the first surface of the first component part.

A resistance spot welding system can join two polymeric workpieces and includes a power supply. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The resistance spot welding system further includes a welding electrode assembly electrically connected to the power supply. The welding electrode assembly includes a housing, a first electrically conductive pin and a second electrically conductive pin. The first and second electrically conductive pins both protrude from the housing. The first electrically conductive pin is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the second electrically conductive pin is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. The second electrically conductive material is electrically insulated from the first electrically conductive pin. The first and second electrically conductive pins are at least partly made of a material having a hardness ranging between 50 HRC and 70 HRC.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for manufacturing wind turbine blades which in some instances require using new blade joint designs. The blade joint designs described herein may allow for contact in places where welds will be made, which allows for existing manufacturing tolerances to be used while still enabling the use of thermal welding for wind turbine blades.

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components by positioning and moving a heated plate between the components to melt their respective faying surfaces, and as the plate moves, pressing the components together so that the melted faying surfaces bond together as they cool and re-solidify, thereby creating a composite structure. The plate has a heated portion which is positioned between and heated to melt a portion of the first and second faying surfaces. A manipulator mechanism moves the plate along an interface from between the portion to between a series of subsequent portions of the first and second faying surfaces, thereby welding the thermoplastic components along the entire interface to create the composite structure. An injection device may also move behind the plate and reciprocally inject a polymer between the first and second faying surfaces to provide toughness and crack arresting properties.

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components by positioning and moving a heated plate between the components to melt their respective faying surfaces, and as the plate moves, pressing the components together so that the melted faying surfaces bond together as they cool and re-solidify, thereby creating a composite structure. The plate has a heated portion which is positioned between and heated to melt a portion of the first and second faying surfaces. A manipulator mechanism moves the plate along an interface from between the portion to between a series of subsequent portions of the first and second faying surfaces, thereby welding the thermoplastic components along the entire interface to create the composite structure. The heated portion may contact the faying surfaces and melt them through conduction, or may be suspended between them and melt them through radiation and convection.