Abstract: An O-ring seal consists of an elastomeric core (1) and a sheathing enclosing the core, said sheathing consisting preferably of two shell-like, thermoplastically coated PTFE films (3, 4). In the overlapping region (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) of the films, the latter are connected together in a sealing manner, in that the thermoplastic coatings thereof are welded together by the laser transmission welding method. The sheathing is not connected to the elastomeric core (2).

Abstract: An O-ring seal consists of an elastomeric core (1) and a sheathing enclosing the core, said sheathing consisting preferably of two shell-like, thermoplastically coated PTFE films (3, 4). In the overlapping region (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) of the films, the latter are connected together in a sealing manner, in that the thermoplastic coatings thereof are welded together by the laser transmission welding method. The sheathing is not connected to the elastomeric core (2).

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a first structural film layer disposed at its periphery, a second structural film layer adhered to the first structural film layer by an adhesive, at least one of the first and second structural film layers also being adhered to one of an anode and cathode by the adhesive, the MEA and the first and second structural film layers being sandwiched by a pair of gas diffusion layers, characterized in that the first structural film layer has a plurality of vias therein; and the second structural film layer has a plurality of vias therein which are in non-overlapping relation to the vias in the first structural film layer.