Importance

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Abstract

Electrical apparatus such as a heater (2) for an ice protection system for an aircraft (1) comprises a laminate such as a heater mat (3) and a connector (41-49). The laminate (3) comprises dielectric layers (50-58) and an electrical element such as a heater element (501), and each dielectric layer of the laminate comprises thermoplastic material. The connector (41-49) comprises a ribbon having first and second ends and a metal conductor (413, 423, 433). The ribbon comprises thermoplastic material and its first end (415, 425, 435, 445, 455, 465, 475, 485) is embedded in the laminate and is laminated to adjacent first and second ones of the dielectric layers (50-58) of the laminate. Because the thermoplastic material of the ribbon is the same as or is compatible with the thermoplastic material of the first and second dielectric layers, the formation of an undesirable discontinuity at the interfaces between the first end of the ribbon and the first and second dielectric layers is prevented. Thus, cracks are less likely to be initiated at the interfaces during the use of the electrical apparatus, and de-lamination is less likely to occur.

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First Claim