B.S. 1982 Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Paris, France
Ph.D. 1988 University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Postdoctoral Associate 1987-1988 Michigan Molecular Institute
NSF Young Investigator Award, 1993

Semicrystalline polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and nylon-6,6, to name a few, have become an integral part of our environment during the last half a century. Yet, we are still far from having a complete molecular level understanding of their crystallization mechanism and intrinsic structure-property correlations. Using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry, optical, electron and atomic force microscopies, light and X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy and rheological measurements, we probe their crystallization and melting behavior as well as their morphology and physical properties. Examples of current research projects are given below:

• Experimental and theoretical studies of the molar mass and temperature dependences of crystal growth for flexible chain polymers.
• Investigations of the crystallization, morphology and physical properties of ethylene/styrene and ethylene/styrene/propylene statistical copolymers.
• Crystallization and morphological studies in propylene based copolymers and blends.
• Studies of the correlations between secondary crystallization and physical aging above Tg.
• Competition between crystallization and phase separation in binary polymer mixtures.
• Crystallization of polymers in confined space.

1. "Influence of Structural and Topological Constraints on the Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Polymers. 3. Bisphenol A-Polycarbonate", A. Alizadeh, S. Sohn, J. Quinn, H. Marand, L.C. Schank, H.D. Iler, Macromolecules 34, 4066-4078 (2001)
2. "Influence of Structural and Topological Constraints on the Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Polymers. 2. Poly(arylene ether ether ketone)", H. Marand, A. Alizadeh, R. Farmer, R. Desai, V. Velikov, Macromolecules 33, 3392-3403 (2000).
3. "Influence of Structural and Topological Constraints on the Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Polymers. 1. Ethylene/1-Octene Copolymers", A. Alizadeh, L. Richardson, J. Xu, S. McCartney, H. Marand, Y.W. Cheung and S. Chum, Macromolecules 32, 6221-6235 (1999).
4. "Determination of the Equilibrium Melting Temperature of Polymer Crystals: Linear and Nonlinear Hoffman-Weeks Extrapolations", H. Marand, J. Xu, and S. Srinivas, Macromolecules 31, 8219-8229 (1998).
5. "Equilibrium Melting Temperature and Undercooling Dependence of the Spherulitic Growth Rate of Isotactic Polypropylene", J. Xu, S. Srinivas, H. Marand, P. Agarwal, Macromolecules 31, 8230-8242 (1998).