Abstract: A panel assembly that includes a main panel, a sound-damping patch, a sound-damping adhesive layer, and a structural adhesive joint. The structural adhesive joint may be used in place of spot welds, clinched joints or other metal joining mechanisms that would prohibit the panel assembly from being used in certain applications, such as class A surfaces on a vehicle that can be seen or touched by a customer.

Abstract: A panel assembly 10 that includes a main panel 12, a sound-damping patch 14, a sound-damping adhesive layer 16, and a structural adhesive joint 18. The structural adhesive joint may be used in place of spot welds, TOX joints or other metal joining mechanisms that would prohibit the panel assembly from being used in certain applications, such as class A surfaces on a vehicle that can be seen or touched by a customer.

Abstract: A sound damping material for use in a sound damping laminate having one or more rigid layers, such as those used in the automotive industry. The sound damping material is preferably a viscoelastic material that damps or otherwise inhibits the transmission of vibrational or acoustical energy through the laminate, and also acts as an adhesive for bonding the rigid layers together. In its cured form, the sound damping material layer can include an acrylate-based polymer matrix, and one or more of the following components: a precipitated phase, a viscous phase, and miscellaneous constituents. The acrylate-based polymer matrix is the reaction product of at least one acrylate-based monomer, such as isobornyl acrylate.

Abstract: A mechanically releasable slider process utilizes silicone rubber or PDMS to take the function of a planarization material for individual sliders or slider rows. Mechanical debonding takes advantage of the rubber-elastic property of PDMS. A gripper is used in a virtually solvent-free, air bearing patterning UV-molding process and resist-based processes. A PDMS-based fixture is used during both the lapping process and the photo or UV-mold patterning of the ABS surface. This fixture can mechanically hold sliders by large area reversible adhesion while allowing gimbaling, electrical connection, actuation, UV-molding or photolithography, and mechanical release, thus reducing the number of slider manipulations to two.

Abstract: UV molding from elastomeric masters on thin bendable backplanes that allow replication of UV-cured resist patterns with high accuracy is disclosed. This design accommodates large substrate topographies, has improved de-molding properties, and facilitates two-in-one lithography and assembly of the sliders on topographically structured elastomeric sticky pads. The combination of sticky pad assembly and two-in-one lithography allows an all-in-one harmony process based on UV-molding. These features cure prior art technical problems of the harmony process while significantly reducing cost.

Abstract: A process for fabricating sliders where the sliders are held in place during processing by a solid matrix material is described. A thin coating of a release-layer material is applied on the sliders before encapsulation in the matrix material. The release-layer material is polyvinyl alcohol and more preferably high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol which is highly hydrolyzed. Use of the release-layer of the invention maintains the process resistance while providing the advantage of allowing easier removal of the matrix material after it is no longer needed. The release-layer can be applied to encapsulant materials including epoxies, acrylates, polyimides, silsesquioxanes and others. After the selected fabrication process such as the formation of air-bearing features an appropriate solvent is applied to soften the polyvinyl alcohol film and allow clean debonding of the sliders.

Abstract: A process for fabricating sliders where the sliders are held in place during processing by a solid matrix material is described. A thin coating of a release-layer material is applied on the sliders before encapsulation in the matrix material. The release-layer material is polyvinyl alcohol and more preferably high molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol which is highly hydrolyzed. Use of the release-layer of the invention maintains the process resistance while providing the advantage of allowing easier removal of the matrix material after it is no longer needed. The release-layer can be applied to encapsulant materials including epoxies, acrylates, polyimides, silsesquioxanes and others. After the selected fabrication process such as the formation of air-bearing features an appropriate solvent is applied to soften the polyvinyl alcohol film and allow clean debonding of the sliders.

Abstract: An adhesive system capable of use to secure two substrates to one another. The adhesive system uses a resin and a hardener which are encased in a polymerized, integral film.

Abstract: A fastening system comprises a housing having a closed end and an open end. A first mixable fastener component is disposed within the housing at the closed end and defines a first volume, the first volume being substantially devoid of gas. A rupturable skin overlie the first component proximate the open end for maintaining the first component within the housing.