Patent ID: 9296185
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method for joining two components, the method comprising: positioning a thermoplastic polymer portion of a first component adjacent a thermoplastic polymer portion of a second component such that the first and second portions form an interface, wherein at least one of the portions includes a microstructure having a plurality of closed cells, each cell containing a void and each cell having a maximum dimension extending across the void within the cell that ranges between 1 micrometer and 200 micrometers long and wherein a plurality of the cells has a temperature equal to ambient temperature and includes gas in their respective voids in an amount sufficient to exert pressure on the microstructure; and after positioning the polymer portion, exerting pressure on the exterior of the thermoplastic polymer portions to form a bond at the interface that holds the portions together, wherein the positioning and exerting the pressure occurs before the gas in the voids equalizes with the surrounding environment such that the pressure from the gas in the voids helps the microstructure resist the pressure exerted on the thermoplastic polymer portions.