| 摘要 |
To bond thermoplastic materials a pair of thermoplastic members 3, 5 are placed adjacent one another to define a joint region. A tape 4 of carbon fibres embedded in thermosplastic materials 6, 7 (e.g. PEEK material) is laid adjacent the joint region with the fibres extending transverse to the joint region. Current is caused to pass between electrodes 1, 2 through the carbon fibres such that heat generated by the current causes thermoplastic material in the joint region to bond the members together. To lap-weld sheets, the electrodes and exposed carbon fibres are on opposite sides of the sheets. A parallel array of tapes may provide separate current paths. The electrodes may be mounted on caterpillar tracks (Fig. 7). Electrode contact is improved using soft conducting pads 17, 18. <IMAGE> |
