Multi-functional interface/surface layer for thermoplastic components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11993026-B2
Application number	US-202117172523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2021
Priority date	Feb 10, 2021
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

A joint between dissimilar thermoplastic materials comprising a first thermoplastic material layer; a second thermoplastic material layer having a melting point temperature different from a melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer; and an interface layer coupled between the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer; wherein the interface layer is configured to join the first thermoplastic material layer and the second thermoplastic material layer together to form the joint, wherein the interface layer comprises a melting point temperature having a value selected from the group consisting of between the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer; or lower than the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for welding an attachment to a component with an interface layer comprising:
providing the attachment comprising a first thermoplastic material;
providing the component comprising a second thermoplastic material having a melting point temperature of greater than 25 degrees Centigrade different from a melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material; and
welding an interface layer between the attachment and the component; wherein the interface layer is configured to join the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material together to form a weld, wherein said interface layer comprises a melting point temperature having a value selected from the group consisting of between the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer; or lower than the melting point temperature of the first thermoplastic material layer and the melting point temperature of the second thermoplastic material layer.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing a surface treatment on at least one of the attachment and the component.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a fiber reinforcement to said interface layer.

4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
incorporating said interface layer into at least one of the attachment and the component.

5. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
molding said interface layer onto at least one of the attachment and the component.

6. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
coating said interface layer onto at least one of the attachment and the component.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the interface layer comprises a material with a lower processing temperature material that chemically interacts and bonds to the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material in the absence of melting during the welding.

8. A process for welding an attachment to a component with an interface layer comprising:
providing the attachment comprising a first thermoplastic material consisting of polycarbonate;
providing the component comprising a second thermoplastic material consisting of polyetheretherketone; and
welding an interface layer between the attachment and the component; the interface layer consisting of polyetherimide or thermoplastic polyurethane; wherein the interface layer is configured to join the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material together to form a weld.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Zhao Wenping
• Xing Lei
• Grolman Danielle
• Mijares Orlando
• Herndon Mary K
• Siddhamalli Sridhar

Classifications

• B29C66/73116 Primary

  of different melting point, i.e. the melting point of one of the parts to be joined being different from the melting point of the other part · CPC title

• B29C65/02

  by heating, with or without pressure · CPC title

• B29C66/712

  the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part · CPC title

• B29C66/721

  Fibre-reinforced materials (B29C66/729 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/7311

  Thermal properties · CPC title