Patent ID: 7392929

Claim:
A method of providing sealing, reinforcement, structural adhesion, baffling or a combination thereof to a structure of an automotive vehicle while allowing for welding, the method comprising: providing a mass of synthetic material, the synthetic material including a base material, the base material including a conductive filler; applying the mass of synthetic material to a member; performing a weld operation upon the member wherein the weld operation displaces at least a portion of the mass of synthetic material and forms a weld having a size that is at least 80% of the size of a weld formed by performing a weld operation upon the member without the synthetic material but with a same amount of electrical power or voltage; and activating, after performance of the weld operation, the synthetic material to cure in an automotive paint or coating processing step in an automobile assembly plant such that the synthetic material adheres to the member and provides sealing, reinforcement, structural adhesion, baffling or a combination thereof to the member; wherein the base material includes at least 12% by weight conductive filler and the at least 12% by weight conductive filler is selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbon black, iron phosphide, iron phosphite or combinations thereof; wherein the synthetic material includes a layer disposed upon at least one surface of the base material, the layer being a film having a thickness that is less than 0.5 mm; and wherein the layer includes at least 12% by weight conductive filler, the conductive filler including graphite.