A technology has been developed whereby a polymer (plastic) is delivered through a nozzle onto an area to be seamed causing the polymer to bond to the substrates to which it has been applied. This is accomplished by coaxially delivering laser energy in the plastic as it is being applied. The laser energy coaxially delivered in this way is referred to as Laser Enhanced Bonding (LEB). This process is patented (Patent #5348604). The name of the technology is copyrighted and is referred to in the textile industry as LightSeam. The resulting seam is impermeable, flexible, environmentally safe, long lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. Butt seams generated utilizing LEB demonstrate impermeability approaching or exceeding parent material strengths. This impermeability extends from helium and other gasses to blood pathogens, chemicals, water, and any other characteristics the parent material has been engineered to achieve. The technology allows for the use of virtually any polymer, to be used in conjunction with virtually any complex substrate construct. LEB allows common off-the-shelf polymers to be used in applications previously reserved exclusively for solvent based technologies (neoprenes, rubbers, leather, etc.). This is an incredibly significant environment opportunity. The technology has been demonstrated to members of the HAA team at Lockheed Martin and a method was suggested whereby a conventional tape extruding machine was engineered to allow the tape to be laser enhanced bonded to the seam as it is generated. This will allow new polymers to be matched more perfectly with the evolving needs of the HAA. No comparable seaming technologies exist today!
