A method of dissipating heat from a surface of a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) being inductively welded with a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) includes flexing a heat sink during placement to conform to the surface of the first TPC, cooling the heat sink, applying inductive heat to a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, and drawing off heat via the heat sink from the surface of the first TPC.

A system for consolidating materials, comprising a sonotrode configured to direct ultrasonic energy into materials to be consolidated, wherein the materials to be consolidated have both a glass transition temperature and a melting temperature; a non-rigid consolidating material in proximity to the sonotrode, wherein the non-rigid consolidating material and sonotrode define a region therebetween for receiving the materials to be consolidated, and wherein the non-rigid consolidating material has a glass transition temperature that is higher than the glass transition temperature of the materials to be consolidated and a melting temperature that is higher than the melting temperature of the materials to be consolidated.

A system and method for thermoplastic composite welding comprising a cooling means and a heat source. The cooling means cools a heat-side laminate so as to create a thermal gradient in the heat-side laminate. The heat source heats the heat-side laminate after the cooling step is initiated but before the thermal gradient dissipates so that a first side of the heat-side laminate closer to the heat source does not deform as faying surfaces of the heat-side laminate and another laminate farther away from the heat source are welded together.

A method for the production of an elastic laminate, with the following steps in a production line: coextrudeing a first web of elastic film with at least three layers, with at least two different polymer materials, to feed contemporaneously said coextruded first elastic film web and two second nonwoven webs to a thermal, binding calender, wherein the first elastic film web is arranged between said two second nonwoven webs when entering the calender; wherein said first elastic film web, during the movement from the coextrusion step to the thermal binding step, passes from a melted state, to a solidified and cold state when entering the calender, to join, through spot welding in said calender, said second nonwoven webs with respective opposite outer layers of said first elastic film web, thus producing an intermediate web, to stretch mechanically said intermediate web according to a direction transverse to the same web.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

A method of making an assembly is disclosed. According to the method, a curable sealant is applied to a metal surface of a first article, and the curable sealant and first article are stored under conditions to maintain the curable sealant in an at least partially uncured state. The method further includes contacting the curable sealant on the first article metal surface with an electrically conductive surface of a second article, and curing the curable sealant.

A method for producing a decorative sheet includes the steps of: (a) pressing a thermoplastic resin film (a) on a preheated rotating heating drum, and then pressing a transfer film (b) having a hot-melt adhesive layer, a resin coating, a release coating layer, and a film base material in order such that the hot-melt adhesive layer is positioned in the film (a) side; (β) feeding/supplying a pressed body obtained in the Step (α) between a rotating design-imparting roll and a rotating receiving roll such that the transfer film (b) is positioned in the design-imparting-roll side; and (γ) sequentially passing a laminated sheet obtained in the Step (β) through a first chill roll whose temperature is set to 50° C. to 90° C., and a second chill roll whose temperature is set to a temperature of 20° C. to 70° C. which is lower than the first-chill roll temperature to cool the laminated sheet.

A system and method for thermoplastic composite welding comprising a cooling means and a heat source. The cooling means cools a heat-side laminate so as to create a thermal gradient in the heat-side laminate. The heat source heats the heat-side laminate after the cooling step is initiated but before the thermal gradient dissipates so that a first side of the heat-side laminate closer to the heat source does not deform as faying surfaces of the heat-side laminate and another laminate farther away from the heat source are welded together.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, where the tiles are electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive, a joint flexibly joining the tiles together, and a fluid path formed through the heat sink for communicating a coolant therethrough.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a flexible backing and a number of tiles disposed on the flexible backing in a single layer, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive.