A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

Systems and methods for mating component parts are described. In some embodiments, a system for mating components may include a first component, a second component, a first adhesive, and a second adhesive. The first adhesive may be configured to set in less than 5 minutes after the first component and the second component are placed in a mating position, and the second adhesive may require greater than 5 minutes to set. The first adhesive, after setting, may have sufficient strength to maintain the first component and the second component in the mating position while the second adhesive sets.

A reinforcing mesh element for embedding in a cement matrix of a building structure, preferably in a corner region or in a curved region. The reinforcing mesh element has a grid-shaped arrangement of fiber bundles that are embedded in a plastic matrix. The reinforcing mesh element has at least one rigid zone and at least one flexible zone. In the at least one flexible zone the plastic matrix consists of an elastomer plastic. The plastic matrix comprises in the at least one rigid zone a thermoset plastic. The flexible or rigid form of the reinforcing mesh element is thus obtained, due to the set-up of the plastic matrix. Additional stiffening bodies or stiffening elements that are connected with the grid-shaped arrangement can be omitted. The reinforcing mesh element can be adapted to the respective situation and simplifies handling when manufacturing a building structure.

To provide a release film having an electrostatic dissipative property. The present invention provides a release film comprising a base layer formed of a polyester resin and a surface layer formed of a tetrafluoroethylene resin that comprises an electrically conductive filler, and the release film has a surface resistivity Rs of 1×10.sup.11Ω or less. Preferably, the electrically conductive filler comprises carbon black, and the tetrafluoroethylene resin further comprises particles having an average particle size of 1 μm to 15 μm determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis.

Illustrative examples of forming and using suitably adapted materials for improving interface strength between thermoset-thermoplastic joined parts includes exposure of a thermoplastic substrate to a plasma to form an amine-functionalized substrate having amine chemical moieties disposed on a first surface. The first surface of the thermoplastic substrate is positioned adjacent to and contacts a second surface of a thermoset substrate to form a workpiece. The thermoset substrate includes epoxide chemical moieties on and within material forming the thermoset substrate. The workpiece is subsequently heated to form a structure, where heating of the workpiece causes covalent chemical bonds to form between the plasma-treated first surface of the thermoplastic substrate and the second surface of the thermoset substrate. Thereafter, additional thermoplastic components can be fusion bonded to a surface of the thermoplastic substrate opposite the first surface—thereby providing improved attachment of additional thermoplastic components to the thermoset substrate.

Illustrative examples of forming and using suitably adapted materials for improving interface strength between thermoset-thermoplastic joined parts includes exposure of a thermoplastic substrate to a plasma to form an amine-functionalized substrate having amine chemical moieties disposed on a first surface. The first surface of the thermoplastic substrate is positioned adjacent to and contacts a second surface of a thermoset substrate to form a workpiece. The thermoset substrate includes epoxide chemical moieties on and within material forming the thermoset substrate. The workpiece is subsequently heated to form a structure, where heating of the workpiece causes covalent chemical bonds to form between the plasma-treated first surface of the thermoplastic substrate and the second surface of the thermoset substrate. Thereafter, additional thermoplastic components can be fusion bonded to a surface of the thermoplastic substrate opposite the first surface—thereby providing improved attachment of additional thermoplastic components to the thermoset substrate.

There is provided method of manufacturing a knuckle for a vehicle. The method includes a preform forming operation of forming a preform serving as a preliminary molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle; and a main-molding-object forming operation of hot-pressing the preform to form a main molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle. The preform formed in the preform forming operation may be formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the main molding object, and may be formed in a shape offset inward by a predetermined dimension from an outer shape of the main molding object.

A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.

Illustrative examples of forming and using suitably adapted materials for improving interface strength between thermoset-thermoplastic joined parts includes exposure of a thermoplastic substrate to a plasma to form an amine-functionalized substrate having amine chemical moieties disposed on a first surface. The first surface of the thermoplastic substrate is positioned adjacent to and contacts a second surface of a thermoset substrate to form a workpiece. The thermoset substrate includes epoxide chemical moieties on and within material forming the thermoset substrate. The workpiece is subsequently heated to form a structure, where heating of the workpiece causes covalent chemical bonds to form between the plasma-treated first surface of the thermoplastic substrate and the second surface of the thermoset substrate. Thereafter, additional thermoplastic components can be fusion bonded to a surface of the thermoplastic substrate opposite the first surface—thereby providing improved attachment of additional thermoplastic components to the thermoset substrate.

Illustrative examples of forming and using suitably adapted materials for improving interface strength between thermoset-thermoplastic joined parts includes exposure of a thermoplastic substrate to a plasma to form an amine-functionalized substrate having amine chemical moieties disposed on a first surface. The first surface of the thermoplastic substrate is positioned adjacent to and contacts a second surface of a thermoset substrate to form a workpiece. The thermoset substrate includes epoxide chemical moieties on and within material forming the thermoset substrate. The workpiece is subsequently heated to form a structure, where heating of the workpiece causes covalent chemical bonds to form between the plasma-treated first surface of the thermoplastic substrate and the second surface of the thermoset substrate. Thereafter, additional thermoplastic components can be fusion bonded to a surface of the thermoplastic substrate opposite the first surface—thereby providing improved attachment of additional thermoplastic components to the thermoset substrate.