Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a graphene foam laminate for use as a sealing material, the process comprising (a) providing a layer of graphene foam; and (b) laminating the layer of graphene foam with one layer of permeation-resistant polymer to form a two-layer laminate or with two layers of permeation-resistant polymer to form a three-layer laminate wherein the graphene foam layer is sandwiched between the two permeation-resistant polymer layers. The two permeation-resistant polymer layers can be the same or different in composition. The product is a new, novel, unexpected, and patently distinct class of highly conducting, elastic, thermally stable, and strong sealing materials.

Abstract: There is provided a technique of reducing the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the process of bonding strip-shaped members to each other. A long strip-shaped first member is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the first member. A width of a long strip-shaped second member in the shorter direction of the second member is larger than a width of the first member in a shorter direction of the first member. The second member is placed such that respective ends in a shorter direction of the second member are freed. The second member is bonded to the first member being conveyed, such that the shorter direction of the first member is aligned with the shorter direction of the second member and that respective ends in the shorter direction of the first member are placed between the respective ends in the shorter direction of the second member. The second member bonded to the first member is then conveyed along with the conveyed first member.

Abstract: There is provided a technique of reducing the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the process of bonding strip-shaped members to each other. A long strip-shaped first member is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the first member. A width of a long strip-shaped second member in the shorter direction of the second member is larger than a width of the first member in a shorter direction of the first member. The second member is placed such that respective ends in a shorter direction of the second member are freed. The second member is bonded to the first member being conveyed, such that the shorter direction of the first member is aligned with the shorter direction of the second member and that respective ends in the shorter direction of the first member are placed between the respective ends in the shorter direction of the second member. The second member bonded to the first member is then conveyed along with the conveyed first member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing or eliminating corrosion in joined materials are disclosed, for example, multi-material joints. The system may include a sealing device including a body and a tip. The tip may be configured to form a seal around a local region of a material having a fastener disposed therein. The sealing device may be configured to apply a sealant material from the tip to the local region and form a cap thereover. The tip of the sealing device may form a cavity between the material and the inner surface of the tip, which may be filled with the sealant material to form the cap. In one embodiment, the sealing device may be configured to couple to the joining device that inserted the fastener. This may allow for accurate and robust placement of the sealant material directly after the fastener is inserted.

Abstract: A method for reinforcing joints between one or more components is presented. Adhesive is applied to joint areas of contact between the components and the components are stitched together at the joint areas to ensure that the joints are mechanically stable enough to withstand stresses such as pressurization and external manipulation.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for adhering hardware to a substrate, wherein the method comprises coupling the hardware with a rigid tube or an elastomeric tube, applying adhesive onto a bonding surface of the hardware, inserting the rigid tube or the elastomeric tube through an aperture of the substrate until a surface of the substrate contacts the bonding surface having adhesive applied thereon, and adhering the hardware to the substrate by applying localized heat through a heating component disposed within the rigid tube or the elastomeric tube.

Abstract: A structural panel for an aircraft nacelle may comprise a first skin, a second skin, and a core sandwiched between them. A disbond may be present between the first skin and the core. A plurality of layers of blueprint film adhesive may be positioned over the disbond. The structural panel may be vacuum bagged, and the blueprint film adhesive may be heated. The blueprint film adhesive may flow through perforations in the first skin and bond the first skin to the core.

Abstract: A laminate is directly transferred from a first robot arm that carries the laminate from a bonding chamber to an overlapping chamber, to a second robot arm that carries out the laminate from the overlapping chamber to the outside.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a flexible container. The method implements an injection mold having a collapsible core that expands/moves to define the apertures and, in some embodiments, holds a flexible film in place during the injection mold process and collapses/moves back post-injection molding to allow for the flexible container to be readily removed from the die. In addition, the method described includes a post-injection molding anneal process that is implemented to allow the flexible film to shrink so as to provide for form-fitting of the film to the molded portion of the container.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided having a pressurized fluid-filled chamber in the sole structure having a continuous perimeter weld and lacking an inflation channel. The chamber may be formed from opposing polymer sheets, a continuous perimeter weld lacking a weld channel bonding the sheets and forming an interior void between the sheets, and a fluid disposed within the interior void exerting outward pressure on the sheets. A method for making the chamber can include placing a pair of polymer sheets in an opposing arrangement, pressing opposing perimeter weld portions of the sheets against each other to form an airtight seal along a perimeter region of an interior void, supplying a flow of pressurized air between the opposing sheets into the interior void, and, while maintaining a desired fluid pressure, welding the perimeter weld portions of the sheets to each other. A high-frequency welder for forming chamber is also provided.

Abstract: A composite pipe is disclosed. The composite pipe includes a thermoplastic inner layer and a tape layer. The tape layer is exterior to and bonded with the thermoplastic inner layer. The composite pipe also includes a protective layer formed exterior to the tape layer.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet tray on which one or more sheets to be processed are placed, an adhesive applying unit, and a pressing member. The adhesive applying unit has an end portion that faces the sheet tray and holds an adhesive material and is configured to move towards the sheet tray up to a position at which the end portion is in contact with or proximate to a sheet on the sheet tray and apart from the sheet tray. The pressing member is configured to move into and out of a moving path of the adhesive applying unit. The pressing member is pressed against a sheet on the sheet tray by the adhesive applying unit, when the pressing member is in the moving path of the adhesive applying unit and the adhesive applying unit moves towards the sheet tray.