Supramolecular assembly can yield ordered structures by taking advantage of the cumulative effect of multiple non-covalent interactions between adjacent molecules. The thermodynamic origin of many self-assembled structures in water is the balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments of the molecule. Here, we show that this approach can be generalized to use solvophobic and solvophilic segments of fully hydrophobic alkylated fullerene molecules. Addition of n-alkanes results in their assembly--due to the antipathy of C60 towards n-alkanes--into micelles and hexagonally packed gel-fibres containing insulated C60 nanowires. The addition of pristine C60 instead directs the assembly into lamellar mesophases by increasing the proportion of π-conjugated material in the mixture. The assembled structures contain a large fraction of optoelectronically active material and exhibit comparably high photoconductivities. This method is shown to be applicable to several alkyl-π-conjugated molecules, and can be used to construct organized functional materials with π-conjugated sections.

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This article studies the pull-through resistance of a titanium carbon fibre-epoxy resin laminate fastener. Coupons with fastener holes made with different methods were compared – drilled, milled on a CNC plotter and special fibre application during laminate production. The tests were conducted according to the ASTM D7332 test standard. The studies showed that the fastener hole preparation method impacts the laminate’s resistance to fastener pull-through. Coupons with holes made with standard (drilling and milling) methods showed fastener pull-through resistance higher, on average, by 6.5% than in coupons with holes placed during plate production. Fastener work to rupture was also higher for coupons with milled and drilled holes. Microscopic observations in UV-light, using a fluorescent penetrant, showed differences in failure mechanisms between individual coupons, especially the lack of fibres in the 0° direction, in immediate vicinity to a hole prepared during laminate application.

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