The present invention relates to a method for evaluating an assembly by welding of parts made of thermoplastic materials, to a test piece and its associated uses, to an installation for implementing this method and to the associated welding system.

The use of compatible, semi-miscible or miscible polymer compositions as support structures for the 3D printing of objects, including those made from polyether-block-amide copolymers such as PEBAX® block copolymers from Arkema, polyamides such as RILSAN® polyamides from Arkema, polyether ketone ketone such as KEPSTAN® PEKK from Arkema, and fluoropolymers, such a KYNAR® PVDF from Arkema, especially objects of polyvinylidene fluoride and its copolymers. One particularly useful miscible polymer is an acrylic polymer, which is miscible with the fluoropolymer in the melt. The support structure composition provides the needed adhesion to the build plate and to the printed object and support strength during the 3D printing process, yet it is removable after the fluoropolymer object has cooled. The support polymer composition is selected to be stiff and low warping, yet flexible enough to be formed into filaments.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer blend composition exhibiting improved mechanical properties upon fabrication. The fluoropolymer blend composite on is produced by blending an emulsion latex of fluoropolymer (A) with an emulsion latex of fluorinated copolymer (B). Copolymer (B) emulsion has a small particle size, super high MW, and a low degree of crystallinity. The blending of the latex emulsions results in a morphology with small particles of copolymer (B) uniformly distributed within a matrix of fluoropolymer (A) in a manner that could not be achieved by a mere melt blending of the tow components.

A method of manufacturing an armour layer of a flexible pipe for transporting fluid from a subsea location and apparatus are provided. The method comprises winding a first length of composite tape to form a first section of the armour layer and positioning an end region of the first length of composite tape over an end region of a second length of composite tape to form an overlapping tape section. Heat and pressure is applied to the overlapping tape section to form a joined overlapping tape section in which the first length of tape is joined to the second length of tape such that the joined overlapping tape section has a lap shear strength of at least 11 MPa. The joined overlapping tape section and the second length of composite tape are wound to form a second section of the armour layer.

A method of manufacturing an armour layer of a flexible pipe for transporting fluid from a subsea location and apparatus are provided. The method comprises winding a first length of composite tape to form a first section of the armour layer and positioning an end region of the first length of composite tape over an end region of a second length of composite tape to form an overlapping tape section. Heat and pressure is applied to the overlapping tape section to form a joined overlapping tape section in which the first length of tape is joined to the second length of tape such that the joined overlapping tape section has a lap shear strength of at least 11 MPa. The joined overlapping tape section and the second length of composite tape are wound to form a second section of the armour layer.

An injection molding process to mold a fluorinated thermoplastic elastomeric polymer composition is disclosed. An article made using the process has little shrinkage.

A method of welding/joining corrugated pipe segments, an apparatus configured to weld/join corrugated pipe segments, and a method of circulating water are disclosed. The method of welding/joining corrugated pipe segments includes holding or securing an end of each of the corrugated pipe segments with a jig, and welding the ends of the corrugated pipe segments together. The jig includes at least two rings, each configured to receive one of the ends of the corrugated pipe segments, and a brace or connector connected to each of the two rings. The apparatus includes the jig, a welding ring configured to receive the ends of the corrugated pipe segments, a resistive heating coil for heating the welding ring, and a control circuit configured to control a temperature of the resistive heating coil and maintain the temperature of the resistive heating coil once a target temperature is reached.

A method of welding/joining corrugated pipe segments, an apparatus configured to weld/join corrugated pipe segments, and a method of circulating water are disclosed. The method of welding/joining corrugated pipe segments includes holding or securing an end of each of the corrugated pipe segments with a jig, and welding the ends of the corrugated pipe segments together. The jig includes at least two rings, each configured to receive one of the ends of the corrugated pipe segments, and a brace or connector connected to each of the two rings. The apparatus includes the jig, a welding ring configured to receive the ends of the corrugated pipe segments, a resistive heating coil for heating the welding ring, and a control circuit configured to control a temperature of the resistive heating coil and maintain the temperature of the resistive heating coil once a target temperature is reached.

An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface and also includes a plurality of optical fibers located within the channel. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes melting together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.

An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface and also includes a plurality of optical fibers located within the channel. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes melting together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.