Abstract: A metallic carrier for automobile exhaust gas purification made of thin metal foil includes a honeycomb unit composed of 8-25 &mgr;m thick corrugated metal foil and flat metal foil joined by solder joints not fewer than 70% of which have a thickness of at least 1.5 times and not greater than 4 times the foil thickness. A method of producing the metal carrier includes a step of forming a honeycomb unit in which 8-25 &mgr;m thick corrugated metal foil and flat metal foil are joined by solder joints using a solder powder, the solder powder having a particle diameter not greater than 4.5 times the thickness of the metal foil constituting the honeycomb unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method to reduce the strength of the honeycomb of a jet turbine stator, increasing its machinability, with a resultant reduction in measured peak tooth temperature, while maintaining or even improving its high temperature capability, so as not to limit its operating environment. The air seal functionality is unaffected, and even improved in some instances. The machinability of the honeycomb is increased by using a light element diffused into the honeycomb ribbon to produce the effect of reducing its strength and ductility while maintaining the environmental resistance needed. The present invention also includes the stator honeycomb produced by the foregoing method.

Abstract: An improved silicon steel sheet has two lateral ends each having a side edge narrower than the width of the silicon sheet. The side edge has two end points linking respectively to two lateral sides of the silicon steel sheet to form two symmetrical slant edges for reducing tension area of the silicon steel sheet at the side edge. The slant edges and the side edges form two solder zones to anchor the silicon steel sheet for soldering at the initial winding stage and after the winding is completed.

Abstract: A metal foil connection of first and second metal foils having a thickness of less than 0.05 mm includes a connecting point in which the metal foils are brazed to one another. The connecting point forms a wedge which is filled with brazing medium. A mass of the brazing medium, and a mass of sections of the metal foils which the brazing medium contacts in the wedge, have a given ratio. A honeycomb body, a brazing medium particle fraction and a method for manufacturing metal foil connections with a thickness of less than 50 micrometers, are also provided.

Abstract: A stack assemblage of metallic, paper, or paper-like sheets or strips of material secured to one another to define a honeycomb core structure when the assemblage is expanded and flange tabs provided on the opposite edges of said stack. When the stack is expanded, the flange tabs can be deformed into flange orientation on the opposite edges of said stack. The method of fabricating the flange tabs and flanges on the assemblage and the expanded core structure.

Abstract: A metal-reinforced layered composite includes at least one intermediate metal layer. The intermediate metal layer includes at least two at least partially overlapping metal foils which are joined to one another in an overlap region by at least one weld seam. There are no leakage channels and/or no continuous leakage channels at the weld seam of the metal foils in the longitudinal extent of the overlap region. At least one of the weld seams may have a course which at least at one point has a direction component at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the overlap region of the metal foils. The intermediate metal layer may be provided with at least one passage in the overlap region of the metal foils. A gasket, a gasket sheet, a metal layer and a method of manufacturing a layered composite are also provided.

Abstract: The invention refers to a pile (1) of a plurality of panels (2) comprising at least one web of a hygiene- or wiping material (3). The web has a web width (3a) and a web length (3b) and is divided in its length direction in closely adjacent or partly overlapping separate or partly interconnected sheets (3′, 3″), which in the longitudinal direction of the web extend between transverse separations or perforations (4). The web as well as the sheets are folded in accordion-like manner about transverse folding lines (5) forming panel edges (14), so that panels (2) are formed and piled on top of each other, wherein the pile has a panel width (2a) constituting the distance between adjacent folding lines (5) and a panel length (2b) which is the same as the panel width (3a). The majority of the sheets (3′, 3″) comprised in a pile have a length, which is not divisible with the panel width (2a).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tailored blank having a pair of sheet metal constituent parts each having a pair of oppositely directed major surfaces. The first constituent part has an aperture while the second constituent part has an embossment to fit the aperture. The first and second constituent parts are then secured to one another to form the tailored blank. The blank may then be subsequently formed into a component of varying material characteristics.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for brazing plate/plate and plate/fin multi-channeled structures using an amorphous brazing foil as a brazing filler metal between the parts in order to form uniform joints having optimal dimensions, shape and strength. The parts are assembled in an unconstrained stack, and a controlled load is applied to the top of the stack. The stack is then heated to a temperature at which the interlayer melts and reacts with the base metal to form the joints. The stack is cooled resulting in a brazed structure having the desired characteristics, wherein the brazed joints are optimally formed and the strength of the structure is equal to the underlying strength of the base metal.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for brazing plate/plate and plate/fin multi-channeled structures using an amorphous brazing foil as a brazing filler metal between the parts in order to form uniform joints having optimal dimensions, shape and strength. The parts are assembled in an unconstrained stack, and a controlled load is applied to the top of the stack. The stack is then heated to a temperature at which the interlayer melts and reacts with the base metal to form the joints. The stack is cooled resulting in a brazed structure having the desired characteristics, wherein the brazed joints are optimally formed and the strength of the structure is equal to the underlying strength of the base metal.

Abstract: A housing for a honeycomb body includes a jacket tube with an inner wall surface. The jacket tube has a passivation layer in at least one section of the inner wall surface in order to deliberately modify a connection to the honeycomb body by joining. A method for the production of a catalyst carrier body with a honeycomb body and a housing according to the invention are also indicated. A catalyst carrier body produced in this way reduces thermal stresses between the honeycomb body and the jacket tube and, in particular, ensures a reliable brazing process during production, even in a vacuum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a first substrate (100) with at least one bonding area (110a, 110b), liable to be assembled with a second substrate (200), the bonding area (110a, 110b) comprising an area made of a material (104) that can be wetted with a meltable material. According to the invention, the bonding area (110a, 110b) comprises at least one cavity (120) to receive meltable material.

Abstract: In a hemming structure of metal plate material with an edge portion (7) of an outer panel (6) hemmed over an edge portion (2) of an inner panel (1), the edge portion (2) of the inner panel (1) has an inside rise portion (3) having a surface plane (3′) down-sloping towards an edge (4) thereof and the edge portion (7) of the outer panel (6) has an outside rise portion (8) telescopically fitted with the inside rise portion (3), a back plane (8′) of the outside rise portion (8) abutting on the surface plane (3′) of the inside rise portion (3).

Abstract: The invention described herein provides an organic-inorganic multilayer coating system comprising an advanced nanostructured layer-by-layer hybrid coating for the corrosion inhibition of metals. Electrochemically-active corrosion inhibitors are adsorbed onto a layer-by-layer assembled organic-inorganic multilayer coating, preferably used in combination with a topcoat sol-gel barrier layer, to provide enhanced corrosion protection of metal substrates.

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding is disclosed. The method includes providing a first metallic workpiece having a primary surface and a second metallic workpiece having a secondary surface. The method also includes positioning the primary surface into physical contact with a first electrode and a second electrode into physical contact with the secondary surface. The second electrode includes a secondary actuator. The method also includes measuring contact force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and initiating a current through the first electrode when the contact force reaches a preselected force value. The method also includes forming a weld nugget in at least the second workpiece and a depression in the primary surface of the first workpiece, and controlling the location of the weld nugget by using two different classes of electrodes. The depression in the primary surface is substantially undetectable by a visual examination. A resistance spot welding system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a means and method for producing multi-laminar elements, said elements being suitable for operation in high temperature, atmospheric or vacuum environments such as those which may be required when processing materials such as substrates for semiconductors or for chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A cylindrical honeycomb structure formed by spirally winding a strip metal flat sheet and a strip metal corrugated sheet overlapped thereon. The metal flat sheet is welded, at each turn, to the metal corrugated sheet at a plurality of axially arranged welding positions on each portion where the metal flat sheet contacts the metal corrugated sheet. Letting L be the axial length of the honeycomb structure and D be the diameter of the honeycomb structure, the maximum value L1 of distances between adjacent welding positions satisfies at least one of relationships given by L1≦/D/2 and L1≦/L/2, or the distance L2 between the outermost welding positions in the axial direction of the honeycomb structure and the outer end face of the honeycomb structure satisfies at least one of relationship given by L2≦/D/20 and L2≦/L/10.

Abstract: To make stress corrosion cracking caused by precipitation of a &bgr; layer (Mg2Al3) in a welding part (5) or in the periphery of the welding part (5) hard to occur. An apparatus body (1) and a header (3) formed of an aluminum alloy with precipitation of magnesium suppressed by standardized heat treatment are assembled and welded, and natural gas containing mercury is subjected to heat exchanging. There are provided with backing metal (4) disposed on the back of the inner wall surface of one header (3) prior to standardized heat treatment and placed in contact with the other apparatus body (1) at the time of assembling and welding, a welding part (5) formed by being assembled and welded using first welding metal containing magnesium at percent content not less than 2.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser lap welding a pair of metal members together. At least one of the pair of metals having a protective metal layer. Each of the metal members having a melt temperature greater than the melt temperature of the protective metal layer. The method includes placing one end of the pair of metal members in an overlapping relation to an other end of the pair of metal members to form an overlapping section. The method also includes inserting a metal alloying agent between the pair of metal members of the overlapping section to form a gap therebetween. A laser welder is used to join the pair of metal members and the alloy agent together so that the protective metal layer and the alloying agent are melted to form an alloy layer between the pair of metal members.

Abstract: A multi-layered metal plate with excellent damping capacity and particularly, to a multi-layered metal plate with excellent damping capacity and a method for manufacturing it, is less costly since the plate can be simply manufactured by simply attaching a thin plate on a main metal plate by the methods such as welding and the like, has excellent damping capacity and especially can be easily shaped. In addition, in the plate, the secondary plate is attached on one or both surfaces of the main metal plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser lap welding a pair of metal members together. At least one of the pair of metal members having a protective metal layer. Each of the metal members having a melt temperature greater than the melt temperature of the protective metal layer. The method includes placing one end of the pair of metal members in an overlapping relation to an other end of the pair of metal members to form an overlapping section. The method also includes inserting a metal alloying agent between the pair of metal members of the overlapping section to form a gap therebetween. A laser welder is used to join the pair of metal members and the alloying agent together so that the protective metal layer and the alloying agent are melted to form an alloy layer between the pair of metal members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-layered sheet comprising two cover sheets (1, 2) with a space between them, and a fill material (3) which fills the space between said cover sheets. Said fill material is made of plastic, in particular of porous duroplastic plastic, comprising embedded hard bodies (6, 7, 8, 9). In order to obtain the best possible geometrical moment of inertia while keeping the weight per surface area low, and in particular in order to prevent shearing out under pressure, of the cover sheet (1) acting as a compression chord, during pressing together of the double-layered sheet, the fill material is characterised by at least two stress/strain characteristic curves. In particular the fill material comprises pores which are sealed off from each other.

Abstract: A stiffening member, as well as a diaphragm of a building in which the stiffening member is used, is disclosed. The diaphragm includes a horizontal wide-flange beam, a corrugated deck, and a corrugated stiffening member. The stiffening member is an elongate, corrugated strip. The stiffening member's corrugations are formed by a series of U-shaped portions that alternate with, and are integrally connected to, a series of horizontal upper portions. Each U-shaped portion consists of three planar portions: two substantially vertical side portions and one horizontal floor portion. Each U-shaped portion is reinforced with two parallel raised ribs. In a second embodiment of the stiffening member, the U-shaped portion is reinforced with two parallel tab portions attached at the sides of the stiffening member. The stiffening member nestingly overlies the corrugated deck, and is attached to the deck and to the underlying horizontal beam with either welds or pins.

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber having a chamber liner and a liner support, the liner support including a flexible wall configured to surround an external surface of the chamber liner, the flexible wall being spaced apart from the wall of the chamber liner. The apparatus can include a heater thermally connected to the liner support so as to thermally conduct heat from the liner support to the chamber liner. The liner support can be made from flexible aluminum material and the chamber liner comprises a ceramic material. The flexible wall can include slots which divide the liner support into a plurality of fingers which enable the flexible wall to absorb thermal stresses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an insulating pack (10), according to which a stack (9) of metallic lamellae is cold-welded simultaneously along a predefined contour and separated from a remaining area. The insulating pack produced according to the invention preferably has a plurality of knobbed and/or perforated aluminium foils (12, 14, 16) and at least one stretch film (18) and is characterized by a narrow welding seam (20) extending along the edge. The insulating pack can be used as an insulating part on its own or loosely inserted into an additional supporting or covering layer. Such insulating parts can be configured in an acoustically active manner and are used in the motor industry, machine industry and/or electronic or computer industry. Means for carrying out the method provided for in the invention provide for the use of a cutting blade with two cutting flanks.

Abstract: A metal foil connection of first and second metal foils having a thickness of less than 0.05 mm includes a connecting point in which the metal foils are brazed to one another. The connecting point forms a wedge which is filled with brazing medium. A mass of the brazing medium, and a mass of sections of the metal foils which the brazing medium contacts in the wedge, have a given ratio. A honeycomb body, a brazing medium particle fraction and a method for manufacturing metal foil connections with a thickness of less than 50 micrometers, are also provided.

Abstract: An insulated appliance which provides a simple, low cost product and method for containing fiber insulation for application to appliances. A combination of an appliance, fiber insulation layer applied to the exterior surface of a wall of the appliance and a multilayer metal foil adhesively bonded to the outside of the fiber layer. This combination is conveniently formed by adhesively bonding the fiber layer to the multilayer metal foil, then applying the fiber layer to the exterior surface of the wall of the appliance. In the appliance final assembly, the fiber layer is contained between the surface of the wall of the appliance and the multilayer metal foil. Optionally, the fiber is contained between two or more layers of multilayer metal foil, whereby one of the multilayer metal foil is in contact with the wall of the appliance.

Abstract: A non-woven wire mesh screen having a first planar array of stainless steel wires disposed in a longitudinal direction and a second planar array of stainless steel wires disposed transverse to the first planar array. The stainless steel wires have a tensile strength greater than 200,000 psi.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing honeycomb structures in which multiple foils are welded together by means of thermal compression and the multiple foils form the honeycomb structure in the expanded condition. The bonding locations, where the foils are fused together, are defined by inserting a structured layer between the foils.

Abstract: A plate-like functional component and method of making same, in particular a gate plate of an automatic gear shift mechanism with locking gate is provided. The gate plate includes engagement holes for engagement elements which kinetically interact with the functional component. To allow high mechanical forces to be transmitted using this component while simplifying its production, and to as far as possible avoid impact noises during interaction with engagement elements which are guided inside the holes, it is provided that the functional component comprises, in sandwich form, three stamped parts, which bear flat against one another, and are unreleasably connected to one another. Each stamped part has at least two engagement holes for engagement elements which kinetically interact with the functional component. The engagement holes in the stamped parts are arranged congruently with respect to one another.

Abstract: A tear/puncture resistant semi-laminate material having a first layer of a flexible sheet of thermoplastic material and a second layer of a water impermeable thermoplastic material impregnated with a volatile corrosion inhibitor. The layers are not bonded with a uniform layer of adhesive, but are semi-laminated by bonding at points or in strips at the edges of the respective layers or at discrete, discontinuous intervals across the width of the material. In the preferred embodiments, the first layer is a tear resistant layer, which may be a layer of woven fibers, a nonwoven layer of spunbonded fibers, or a tear resistant film. In an alternative embodiment, polypropylene is substituted for polyethylene in the first and second layers.

Abstract: A low-stress interface between materials having different thermal coefficients of expansion and method for fabricating same includes using a laminated composite layer having a lateral thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) that is matched to the TCE of another layer of material that is joined thereto. Using a laminate material having a lateral TCE similar to the TCE of the material to which it is joined equalizes the lateral thermal expansion of the two materials at the interface therebetween and minimizes the stress placed on the material that joins the two materials. Furthermore, the layer of material to which the laminate is joined can also be a laminate.

Abstract: A first member and a second member have end portions overlapped and welded by irradiating a laser beam on an outer surface of a lap portion. A front end surface of a fused portion slants at an obtuse angle larger than 90° with respect to a naked outer surface of the second member. A dilution rate S=B/(A+B) is equal to or less than 45%, where “A” represents a cross-sectional area of the fused portion merging into the first member and “B” represents a cross-sectional area of the fused portion merging into the second member.

Abstract: A flexible multilayer metal structure includes using multiple layers interlocked to form folds holding the layers together. These folds can extend into non-edge portions of the multilayer structure so that the multilayer structure defines air gaps that aid in producing a heat-shielding effect.

Abstract: A first member (11) and a second member (12) of metal materials of different kinds are overlapped one upon the other, and the surface of the first member (11) is irradiated with a laser beam to form a melt-solidified portion (2). The melt-solidified portion (2) has a nearly inverted triangular shape in cross section becoming gradually narrow toward the inside from the front surface side of the first member (11), and has a low-hardness layer (21) on the front surface side and a high-hardness layer (22) on the inside. The high-hardness layer (22) has a welded structure in which first layers (23) and second layers (24) having a hardness smaller than that of said first layers (23) are alternatingly laminated in the direction in which the welding proceeds.

Abstract: A sheet laminate for use in a press lay-up between printed circuit board panels having a metal substrate layer and a copper foil layer disposed on at least one surface of the substrate layer. The foil layer is attached onto the surface of the substrate layer by a plurality of metal-to-metal bonds disposed along the boundary of the foil layer such that gaps are defined between the bonds.

Abstract: A ceramic circuit substrate includes an insulating layer fabricated of a ceramic, a first surface conductor layer fabricated on a surface of the insulating layer and embedded in the insulating layer except at least its surface, and a second surface conductor layer fabricated to be stacked on the first surface conductor layer.

Abstract: The cladding material 10 comprises a metal substrate 1, an expanded metal mesh 3 placed on the metal substrate 1 and a corrosion resistant metal lining 4 is placed in contact with the metal mesh 3 in opposition to the metal substrate 1 with the metal mesh 3 inbetween. A metal mesh layer placed on said metal substrate 1 may comprise an expanded metal whose openings are formed by making staggered cuts in a metal plate over the whole part thereof so that each cut passes through the thickness of said metal plate, and expanding said metal plate in a direction intersecting the length of said cuts thereby opening each cut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light structural steel plate in the form of a hump plate and to a process for its production. The light structural steel plate comprises a mould-pressed steel hump plate (1) and a flat aluminium plate (3) connected thereto substance-to-substance at a the hump end faces. The substance-to-substance connection is produced by the feature that after the surfaces to be interconnected at the hump end faces have been activated by means of a laser beam (5), said surfaces are metallically connected under pressure. The decisive factor is that the material of the plates (1, 2) does not pass into the molten phase during activation by means of the laser beam (5).

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for making a metal tag bearing visible indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a workpiece. Such inventive method commences by providing a metal sheet having a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of ends. The top face bears a painted zone upon which is imprinted with visible indicia. At least one of the ends of the bottom face has exposed bare metal. Such bare metal end is folded so as to reveal the bottom face bare metal adjacent to the imprinted painted zone. The thickness of the folded ends is effective for the metal tag to be welded onto a metal workpiece at such folded tag end. Another aspect of the present invention is a metal tag bearing indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a metal workpiece. The tag includes a metal sheet having a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of ends. The top face bears a painted zone upon that is imprinted with visible indicia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-layered sheet metal with a first layer (5) of sheet metal comprising indented knobs (4.sub.I -4.sub.IV ; 4.sub.V -4.sub.VII ; 4.sub.VIII -4.sub.XIII), with several of these knobs forming the corner points of a geometrical segment (8.sub.I, 8.sub.II, 8.sub.III) of the first layer (5) of sheet metal, with a second layer (6) of sheet metal which is connected to the first layer (5) of sheet metal in the area of the tips (4a) of the knobs (4.sub.I -4.sub.IV ; 4.sub.V -4.sub.VII ; 4.sub.VIII -4.sub.XIII), and with a filling (7) made of filling material arranged in the void remaining between the layers (5, 6) of sheet metal. With such a double-layered sheet metal the danger of "total failure" in the case of a load exceeding elastically endured deformation is reduced in that the geometrical segment (8.sub.I, 8.sub.II, 8.sub.

Abstract: An improved honeycomb body having a perimeter which encloses the cross section of the honeycomb body. The honeycomb is formed by folding a strip of metal foil back and forth upon itself to provide folds, the foil having corrugations whereby the corrugations maintain the spacing between the folds. One end and only one end of each fold terminates on the perimeter of the body, the cross section of the body being completely filled with folds. The honeycomb body has increased structural and mechanical integrity and is especially useful as a catalyst support for preparing an automotive catalyst.

Abstract: A formed part having a multiple-plate structure of zonal design includes a base plate and a plurality of reinforcing plates fastened to the base plate. The multiple-plate structure is configured so that its strength is largely adapted to the load profile to be applied to the formed part and so that its cost of production is reduced. To this end, the thicknesses of the reinforcing plates vary as a function of the load structure to be applied to the formed part and the reinforcing plates engage each other in a positive locking manner so that the abutting edges are provided essentially with regularly arranged projections which are in mutual engagement.

Abstract: A highly reliable multi-layer ceramic electronic part in which is compact, in which cracks tend not to occur in the ceramic element even in cases where it is handled in bulk by a chip mounting device. A plurality of electrodes (internal electrodes) are disposed within a ceramic element whose length L.ltoreq.1.0 mm, height H.ltoreq.0.5 mm and width W.ltoreq.0.5 mm. The thickness t.sub.1 of a ceramic outer layer portion of the multi-layer ceramic electronic part, is 0.15 mm or less. The thickness of the ceramic outer layer portion t.sub.1 and the thickness t.sub.2 of the portion where the internal electrodes are disposed have the relationship 1/4 t.sub.2 .ltoreq.t.sub.1.ltoreq.1/3 t.sub.2.

Abstract: A heat shield. The heat shield includes a supporting sheet metal piece having edges, an inner surface and an outer surface; a cover foil fastened on the edges of the sheet metal piece so as to define a thermally insulating air gap with the inner surface of the sheet metal piece; and spacers arranged on the sheet metal piece and projecting into the insulating air gap from the inner surface of the sheet metal piece.

Abstract: A tear/puncture resistant semi-laminate material comprising a layer of woven polyethylene bonded to a layer of nonwoven polyethylene film impregnated with a volatile corrosion inhibitor. The layers are not bonded with a uniform layer of adhesive, but are semi-laminated by bonding at points or in strips at the edges of the respective layers or at discrete, discontinuous intervals across the width of the material. In an alternative embodiment, polypropylene is substituted for polyethylene.

Abstract: A flexible corrugated multilayer metal foil structure comprising a stack of metal foil layers which are formed in corrugations extending across a stack of the metal foil layers, wherein all of the layers have the same corrugated pattern and shape as a result of the stack being shaped in corrugations or the layers being separately shaped in corrugations then nested into a stack. A portion of the corrugations of the stack of metal foil layers can be compressed to fold the layers together whereby the layers are interlocked together in overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A surface component comprised of sheet metal with stiffening sections which are bonded to the sheet metal by means of welds arranged in stretches. To avoid doubling the sheet metal in the region of the bonds between it and the sections and improve the adjustability of the sheet metal at the bonding points, there are cut-outs in the edge regions of the sections between the stretches.

Abstract: A composition comprising an immobilized biological membrane is provided. The functional immobilized biological membrane consists of a support structure, a metal layered onto a surface of the support structure, an alkanethiol monolayer assembled onto the metal, and a biological membrane deposited on the alkanethiol monolayer. Also provided is a method of producing the immobilized biological membrane, wherein the method involves contacting an alkanethiol with a metal surface of a support structure in forming an alkanethiol monolayer assembled onto the metal, and depositing a biological membrane onto the alkanethiol monolayer such that the biological membrane becomes associated with the alkanethiol monolayer. Uses of the biological membrane include as a sensing indicator in a biosensor, as an adsorbent in a chromatography system, and as a coating for medical devices.

Abstract: A two-sheet superplastically formed/diffusion bonded panel is made with a forming die assembly in which forming cavities are held in a flexible retaining sheet that floats in a forming box. A gas passage is provided through the box behind the cavities and the retaining sheet so that the cavities and retaining sheet are forced toward a rigid face sheet forming die element when pressurized gas is introduced. A face sheet and a reinforcing sheet sealed together around their edges, except for a gas passage to provide pressurized gas between the two sheets, are placed between the face sheet die and the forming die elements positioned in the box. The sheets are then heated and pressurized gas is applied between the sheets to cause the face sheet to move into contact with the face sheet die element while the reinforcing sheet superplastically deforms into the cavities supported by the retaining sheet to form ribs.