| abstract |
Joining two waterproof laminate pieces to form welded seam (80) involves placing laminates together so that textile layers contact one another and edges (60a, 60b) of the laminates (1a, 1b) are aligned with each other to form an edge area (65); welding and pressing the edge area together to form seam between the pieces; and welding and pressing the seam together to reorient the edges of the laminates in an edge-to-edge butted orientation. Each of the laminate comprises at least a waterproof functional layer (50) laminated to a textile layer (30). The textile layer has two components. The first component is stable to a first temperature (preferably 180[deg]C) and the second component melts at a second temperature (preferably 160 - 230[deg]C) lower than the first temperature. Welding and pressing the edge area and seam is carried out at 160 - 230[deg]C, using ultrasonic energy in a continuous process. |