Why Do We Need More Active ATRP Catalysts?

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a staple technique for the preparation of polymers with well-defined architecture. In ATRP, the catalyst governs the equilibrium between propagating radicals and dormant species, thus affecting the polymerization control for a range of monomers and transferable atoms employed in the process. The design and the use of highly active catalysts could diminish the amount of transition metal complexes, extend ATRP to less active monomers and give access to new chain-end functionalities. At the same time, very active catalysts can be involved in formation of organometallic species. Herein, the role of the catalyst on the ATRP equilibrium is carefully elucidated, together with recent observations on the impact of the catalyst nature on formation of organometallic species and relevant side reactions. Based on this knowledge, a perspective on the benefits and challenges that derive from the use of highly active ATRP catalysts is presented.     

Street names in Dakar-Plateau: a colonial and post-colonial perspective

ABSTRACT

This article revolves around the naming of streets in Dakar-Plateau. This was borne in mind as analysis considered the system of urban nomenclature applied in the colonial era, when the city was founded and shaped by France’s colonial administration; as well as the (re)naming process ongoing after Senegal’s independence. The approach thus applied quantitative verification methods to a thesis oft-repeated in the subject literature, that a French glossary of toponyms dominates the system by which streets in Dakar are named. Quantitative analysis here shows unequivocally that there is only a slight numerical prevalence of colonial-era names of streets over new names. Beyond that, clear evidence is offered for the idea that, in both colonial days and today, the symbolic urban landscape expressed with the aid of urbanonyms was shaped by authorities in a conscious manner, being pressed into the service of political objectives. To indicate the strength of this kind of linkage, the article engages in the detailed discussion of each change of name that certain streets have been through; the bases for this approach being reference to the historical town/city plans present in the Archives Nationales du Sénégal, as well as fieldwork carried out in the Senegalese capital.     

Solvent‐Assisted Low‐Temperature Crystallization of SnO2 Electron‐Transfer Layer for High‐Efficiency Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

A high‐quality polycrystalline SnO₂ electron‐transfer layer is synthesized through an in situ, low‐temperature, and unique butanol–water solvent‐assisted process. By choosing a mixture of butanol and water as a solvent, the crystallinity is enhanced and the crystallization temperature is lowered to 130 °C, making the process fully compatible with flexible plastic substrates. The best solar cells fabricated using these layers achieve an efficiency of 20.52% (average 19.02%) which is among the best in the class of planar n–i–p‐type perovskite (MAPbI₃) solar cells. The strongly reduced crystallization temperature of the materials allows their use on a flexible substrate, with a resulting device efficiency of 18%.     

Measurement of mechanical properties in a 316L stainless steel welded joint

The aim of this study was to measure the mechanical properties of weld material taken from a single weld bead laid down on a 316L steel plate. Due to the low available volume of weld material, microsamples with a total length of 5.5 mm were used. The Digital Image Correlation method (DIC), which enables measurement of mechanical properties of very small samples, was employed for the strain measurements in a uniaxial tensile test. Samples were cut out from three different zones of the specimen: plate, weld, and the heat affected zone. The material from heat affected zone showed the highest value of the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) (580 ± 7 MPa) and yield strength (339 ± 6 MPa). Plate material had lower UTS (559 ± 5 MPa) and yield strength (304 ± 7 MPa). The lowest values of UTS (526 ± 6 MPa) and yield strength (291 ± 8 MPa) have been revealed for the weld. The values obtained for UTS, yield strength and elongation to failure for the plate material were compared with data obtained using standard test specimens. No significant differences between results obtained for the microsamples and standard samples have been found.     

Evaluation of the mechanical behavior of W7-X central support connections by means of semi-automated FE analysis

The stellarator Wendelstein 7-X is under construction at the Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik in Greifswald. Its superconducting coil system is fixed by a massive structure. During machine operation the coils exert high forces and moments against each other and the central support structure (CSS). Therefore, the detailed analysis of the coil to CSS connections, the so-called central support elements (CSE), is a critical item. The major details of the design have been frozen; nevertheless, there is still need for detailed analysis of the CSEs due to assembly issues, and later on for exploring operational limits of the machine. These analyses have to be performed quickly, reliably, and shall provide results in a standardized form to enable timely responses to the assembly team. Special numerical tools – finite element (FE) parametric models of CSEs – have been developed for the purpose of such analyses. In the models, the geometry, material properties, contact conditions, loads as well as results presentation are defined in a parametric way. The use of the developed models for the definition of the final weld parameters, bolt preloads, assessment of acceptable tolerances, and optimal positions of the CSE-wedges before welding is also discussed.     

Freshness and quality attributes of cold stored Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) gravad

Quality and safety parameters of Atlantic bonito gravad during 42 days of storage at 7 ± 1 °C were analysed using monitoring sensory quality, microbial contamination, nucleotide degradation products, biogenic amines (BA), trimethylamine (TMA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The shelf‐life of vacuum packed Atlantic bonito gravad was found to be 28 days. Total viable count (TVC) did not exceed 6 log CFU g^?1. Malonodialdehyde (MDA) content did not surpass 10 mg kg^?1. Nine biogenic amines were detected. Histamine level at the end of the storage was 355.3 mg kg^?1. TMA increased from 53.9 to 619.1 mg kg^?1. Among indicators based on the products of nucleotide degradation, the H value is best correlated with the sensory assessment. It can be concluded that the storage temperature of bonito gravad must be below 7 °C to prevent the threat to safety and quality posed by biogenic amines, especially histamine.     

Finishing works after welding of structures made of rust-resistant,high-alloy steels

In this paper, problems that occur when working with welds formed of high-alloy steels to restore their passive layers, damaged as a result of temperature impact, are discussed. Particular attention was paid to the procedures concerning aggressive etching agents during and after completion of the passivation processes (waste neutralization and utilization).     

Technology of welding and properties of welded joints of new bainitic and martensitic steels with creep-resistant steels

This paper shows the results of welding tests used so far on high-temperature creep resistant steels and new bainitic and martensitic steels. The positive results of this research allowed the elaboration of a welding procedure specification that was ultimately approved by TÜV. This then allowed the SEFAKO Company to attempt welding of the latest generation boiler steels for use under heavy conditions.     

TIG brazing technology for zinc-coated sheet steel for bodywork

We propose a method for the assessment of the state of welded joints in terms of arc voltage signals and feed rate appraisal. The signals were recorded during laboratory tests. For the appraisal of the signals, we applied numerical parameters such as, for instance, kurtosis. On the basis of analysis results, we developed diagnostic rules which were written in the binary diagnostic matrix. The proposed method has been implemented in the form of software, the correctness of which has been verified on experimental data.