A method of forming an innervated liquid crystal elastomer (iLCE) actuator comprises extruding a filament through a nozzle moving relative to a substrate, where the filament has a core-shell structure including a shell comprising a liquid crystal elastomer surrounding a core configured to induce a nematic-to-isotropic transition of the liquid crystal elastomer. The filament is subjected to UV curing as the filament is extruded, and the filament is deposited on the substrate as the nozzle moves. A director of the liquid crystal elastomer is aligned with a print path of the nozzle, and a 3D printed architecture configured for actuation is formed.

A liquid crystal polymer film that includes a liquid crystal polymer having an endothermic peak temperature that exceeds 330° C., the endothermic peak temperature being a temperature resulting from when the liquid crystal polymer is heated to 400° C. in an inert atmosphere, then cooled to room temperature at a temperature decreasing rate of 40° C./min or more, and measured using a differential scanning calorimeter while being heated again at a temperature increasing rate of 40° C./min.

There is provided a method for producing a metal-resin composite which includes a resin member and a metal member having a roughened surface in at least a portion of the surface thereof, the resin member being joined so as to be in contact with at least a portion of the roughened surface. The method includes a step of joining the resin member and the metal member by melting the resin member with the frictional heat generated in the surface of the metal member on its side opposite to the resin member in a state where the metal member and the resin member are superposed. The method includes making adjustment so that when the roughened surface is measured at arbitrary five points by using a confocal microscope according to ISO 25178, the developed area ratio (Sdr) is 5 or more in terms of number-average value.

A polymer composition comprising carbon nanostructures dispersed within a polymer matrix that includes a thermoplastic polymer having a deflection temperature under load of about 40° C. or more as determined in accordance with ISO 75:2013 at a load of 1.8 MPa and a melting temperature of about 140° C. or more is provided. The carbon nanostructures include carbon nanotubes that are arranged in a network having a web-like morphology and optionally disposed on a substrate.

In various aspects, reinforced composite filaments, methods of making reinforced composite filaments, and methods of producing reinforced composite filament are all provided herein. The reinforced composite filaments can include a thermoplastic polymer matrix having dispersed therein reinforcing fibers composed of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. In some aspects, the thermoplastic polymer matrix is chosen such that a processing temperature for the thermoplastic polymer matrix is below a melting temperature of the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. In some aspects, the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is chosen such that a solidification temperature of the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer is below an upper processing temperature of the thermoplastic polymer matrix. The filaments can be used for fused deposition manufacturing of a variety of parts, especially for the automotive and other industries.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an LCP film for a circuit substrate capable of achieving an LCP film for a circuit substrate having a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion and excellent dimensional stability, without excessively impairing excellent basic performance possessed by the liquid crystal polyester, such as mechanical characteristics, electrical characteristics, and heat resistance. The method for manufacturing an LCP film for a circuit substrate at least comprising: a composition provision step of providing an LCP resin composition at least containing 100 parts by mass of a liquid crystal polyester and 1 to 20 parts by mass of a polyarylate; a film forming step of T-die melt-extruding the LCP resin composition to form a T-die melt-extruded LCP film having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (α2) in a TD direction of 50 ppm/K or more; and a pressurizing and heating step of subjecting the T-die melt-extruded LCP film to pressure and heat treatment to obtain an LCP film for a circuit substrate having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (α2) in the TD direction of 16.8±12 ppm/K.

A method for preparing a liquid crystal polymer film, comprising: (1) spinning a liquid crystal polymer into fibers, and maintaining the fibers for 0.1 hour to 36 hours at a temperature of 200° C. to 400° C. under a vacuum degree less than 500 Pa for later use; (2) weaving the fibers prepared in step (1) into cloth for later use; and (3) pressing the cloth prepared in step (2) into a film at a temperature of 200° C. to 400° C., and then stretching the film to obtain the liquid crystal polymer film. The liquid crystal polymer film prepared by the preparation method is good in mechanical property, and has a tensile strength that can exceed 170 MPa. The prepared liquid crystal polymer film is applied to a FPC, which makes the FPC have a dielectric constant less than 3, and a small dielectric loss tangent angle.

A laser-welded body includes at least three of resin members, which contain a thermoplastic resin including: a first resin member which is a laser-irradiated subject, has an absorbance a.sub.1 of 0.01 to 0.12; a second resin member which has an absorbance a.sub.2 of 0.1 to 0.9 and includes a butted part where ends of one or more resin members are brought into contact with each other; and a third resin member which has an absorbance a.sub.3 of 0.2 to 3.8, and the absorbances a.sub.2, a.sub.3 exhibited by the second resin member and the third resin member are attributed to the inclusion of nigrosine as a laser beam absorbent therein, and the resin members are overlapped in the above mentioned to form contacted parts at these interfaces, at least a part of the butted part and/or the contacted parts are laser-welded.

The present invention discloses an LCP film production apparatus and method. The apparatus includes: a rack; a screw extrusion device; a T-shaped material port; a squeezing assembly, where the squeezing assembly includes a first roller wheel, a second roller wheel, and a third roller wheel, the first roller wheel and the second roller wheel are fixedly mounted directly below the T-shaped material port side by side, and the third roller wheel is fixedly mounted next to the second roller wheel side by side; and an electromagnetic field generator, fixedly connected to the T-shaped material port and mounted around the T-shaped material port in a circle by means of bolts, where the screw extrusion device is fixedly mounted at the top of the rack, and the T-shaped material port is fixedly mounted on one end of the screw extrusion device. According to the present invention, a field generated by the electromagnetic field generator can disrupt the ordered arrangement of LCP molecules, thereby alleviating or even eliminating the anisotropic problem of transverse and longitudinal tensile strength thereof.