Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.
Abstract:
A joining surface treatment device and a joining surface treatment method for treating a joining surface of a component which joining surface is used for joining two components, the joining surface treatment device comprising at least one heat source for heating a portion of a surface of a first component at which portion the first component shall be joined with a second component; and a primer application device for applying a primer to a portion of the surface of the first component which portion is heatable by the at least one heat source, wherein the at least one heat source is arranged so that it can heat the first component before and/or after applying the primer.
Abstract:
A source of IR radiation is used to heat a plastic substrate in a fast fashion inside a processing chamber, where the processing chamber is configured to preheat the plastic substrate and to perform thin film deposition, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD), or plasma etching and cleaning. One aspect of using the source of IR radiation is to preheat only the surface of the plastic substrate while the core of the plastic substrate remains substantially unheated, so that the structure of the plastic substrate may remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the surface properties of the plastic substrate may be modified after the preheating treatment. The source of IR radiation may be provided at wavelength selected to substantially match the absorption wavelength of the plastic substrate. The plastic substrate moves through the heat flux zone generated by the source of IR radiation at a controllable speed.
Abstract:
A method of coating a substrate such as a heat sensitive engineered wood substrate which involves sequential powder coating where at least one and preferably both powder coating steps involves the use of fixed infrared heat sources (optionally pulsing themselves) passed which the developing product (the substrate and its coatings) moves thereby to provide a heat relaxation between maximum exposure to each (optionally pulsing) infrared source. Preferably the first coating is green cured only prior to the application of the second powder coating. Preferably similar pulsing heat sources are used for the initial heating of the substrate so as to enable powder coating.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.
Abstract:
A process for applying a thermoplastic coating to a substrate wherein the gases and other volatiles in a boundary layer between the substrate and the coating are evacuated using a high volume, high velocity air stream which traverses the surface of the substrate to be coated (functioning as an air knife) such that, when the coating is applied, gases/volatiles do not disrupt the coating while:the coating cools and solidifies. The effect of the air knife may be enhanced by heating the substrate and/or by applying a solvent to the substrate. The air knife also cools down the boundary layer of the substrate so that, as the thermoplastic coating is applied, this cooled-down and gas-evacuated boundary layer provides a measure of insulation between the coating and any gases/volatiles which have not been evacuated from the substrate.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flowable materials are applied, treatment of the components prior to application of the flowable materials and the like. Moreover, the apparatuses and methods may be particularly suited for applying flowable materials to surfaces and components found in automotive, aerospace, and marine vehicles.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360null coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propell the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
Abstract:
A liquid penetrable material such as a compactible gasket material is coated with a liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers, by first preheating the liquid penetrable material to a temperature sufficient to prevent any substantial penetration of liquid into the material when the material at the preheated temperature is coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers. The preheated material is then coated with the liquid dispersion of polymer or polymers in an amount sufficient to form a fluid-impermeable barrier over the material and the coated material is supported on a plurality of support members through a drying section until the coating is in a tack-free condition. After drying the material to a tack-free condition, it is supported on a conveyor through a curing station to cure the coating. Thereafter the material is delivered by suitable conveyors to an inspection and packaging station, but may be passed en route through another coating station, this time to receive a suitable release coating. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the gasket is supported through the drying section on a plurality of continuous elastomeric cords.