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Boualem Hammouda

Boualem Hammouda

Education:


Research Interests:


  • Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from polymers and complex fluids.
  • Understanding clustering and solvation in water-soluble polymers and polyelectrolyes.
  • The helix-to-coil denaturation transition in DNA and other biology projects.

The SANS Toolbox:


    Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) is an effective characterization tool for nanoscale structures. An extensive effort has been expanded to put together a 670 page textbook on the SANS technique and its application to the following areas of research: (1) Polymers, (2) Complex Fluids, (3) Biology and (4) Materials Science. This work is the culmination of over 20 years of SANS work mostly at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. Check out the entire pdf file.

Distance Learning SANS Course:


    A Distance Learning Course covering most aspects of Small-Angle Neutron Scattering is available here. Check out the first announcement.

SANS Tutorial:


    This is a complete audio-visual SANS tutorial that includes introductory presentations as well as information about SANS data acquisition, data reduction and data analysis. It takes 4 hours to go over this tutorial. A Pluronics triblock copolymer in heavy water is rich in structural and phase transitions upon heating going all the way from polymer coil at low temperature to spherical micelles, then to cylindrical micelles and finally to lamellar morphology at the highest temperature. A SANS data set has been included. Check it out.

Physical Characterization Methods:


    This is a short tutorial covering the basics of many physical characterization methods. These include scattering methods (such as SANS, SAXS, DLS, and WAXS), spectrocopic methods (such as UV-Vis, and FTIR), microscopy (optical and electron based techniques) as well as other methods (calorimetry, chromatography, density measurements, etc). Check out the pdf file.

Representative Publications:


  • A.Z. Akcasu, B. Hammouda, T.P. Lodge and C.C. Han, "Dynamic Scattering from Bimodal Polymer Solutions. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient", Macromolecules 17, 759-766 (1984)
  • W.H. Stockmayer and B. Hammouda, "Quasielastic Light Scattering as a Diagnostic of Single Chain Dynamics", Pure and Applied Chem. 56, 1373-1377 (1984)
  • B. Hammouda, J.J. Garcia Molina and J.G. de la Torre, "Static Scattering Function from Randomly Broken Chains", J. Chem Phys. 85, 4120-4122 (1986)
  • A.Z. Akcasu, B. Hammouda, W.H. Stockmayer and G. Tanaka, "First Cumulant for Chains with Constraints", J. Chem. Phys. 85, 4734-4743 (1986)
  • G. Schupp, B. Hammouda and C. Hsueh, "Quasielastic Gamma-ray Scattering from Pentadecane", Phys. Rev. A41, 5610-5615 (1990)
  • P. Lindemuth, B. Hammouda and R. Venable, "SANS from TPB Based Microemulsions", J. Phys. Chem. 94, 8247-8250 (1990)
  • B. Hammouda, G. Schupp and S. Maglic, "Quasielastic Gamma-ray Scattering from Polydimethylsiloxane in Benzene Solutions", J. Chem. Phys. 93, 5473-5476 (1990)
  • B. Hammouda, R. Briber and B. Bauer, "SANS from PSD/PVME/PSH Ternary Polymer Blend", Polymer Communications 33, 1785-1787 (1992)
  • B. Hammouda, "Structure Factor for Dendrimer Polymer Gels", J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed. 30, 1387-1390 (1992)
  • B. Hammouda, S. Krueger and C. Glinka, "Small Angle Neutron Scattering at the National Institute of Standards and Technology", NIST Journal of Research 98, 31-46 (1993)
  • D. Neumann and B. Hammouda, "Ultra High Resolution Inelastic Neutron Scattering", NIST Journal of Research 98, 89-108 (1993)
  • B. Hammouda, "SANS from Homogeneous Polymer Systems: a Unified Overview", Advances in Polym. Sci., 106, 87-133 (1993)
  • B. Hammouda, "Scattering from Mixtures of Flexible and Stiff Polymers", J. Chem. Phys. 98, 3439-3444 (1993)
  • A.Z. Akcasu, R. Klein and B. Hammouda, "Dynamics of Multicomponent Polymer Mixtures via the Random Phase Approximation Including Hydrodynamic Interactions", Macromolecules 26, 4136-4143 (1993)
  • H. Benoit, J.F. Joanny, G. Hadziioannou and B. Hammouda,"Scattering by Linear, Branched and Copolymer Chain Molecules for Large Scattering Vectors", Macromolecules 26, 7590-5795 (1993)
  • N. Balsara and B. Hammouda, "Shear Effects on Block Copolymer Lamellae", Physical Review Letters 72, 360-363 (1994)
  • B. Hammouda, B. Bauer, T. Russell, "SANS from PSD/PBMA Homopolymer Blends", Macromolecules 27, 2357-2359 (1994)
  • B. Hammouda, C.C. Lin and N.P. Balsara, "Compressibility Effects in a Solvated Polystyrene-Polyisoprene Diblock Copolymer", Macromolecules 28, 4765-4767 (1995)
  • N. Wagner, L. Walker and B. Hammouda, "The Structure of Isotropic Solutions of Rigid Rods via SANS:PBLG/d-DMF", Macromolecules 28, 5075-5081 (1995)
  • B. Hammouda and M. Benmouna, "Neutron Scattering from Compressed Polymer Blends", J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed. 33, 2359-2364 (1995)
  • B. Hammouda, N.P. Balsara and A. Lefebvre, "SANS from Pressurized PEB/PMB Polymer Blends", Macromolecules 30, 5572-5574 (1997)
  • D. Worcester and B. Hammouda, "Interdigitated Hydrocarbon Chains in C20 and C22 Phosphatidylcholines Induced by Hydrostatic Pressure", Proceedings of the ICNS Conference, (Toronto Aug. 1997), Physica B241, 1175-1177 (1997)
  • R. Krishnamoorti, A.S. Silva, M.A. Modi and B. Hammouda, "SANS Study of a Cylinder-to-Sphere Order-Order Transition in Block Copolymers", Macromolecules 33; 3803-3809 (2000)
  • B. Hammouda, "SANS from Polymers Under Pressure: a Short Review", Neutron News 12, 20-24 (2001)
  • J.H. Lee, N.P. Balsara, R. Krishnamoorti, H.S. Jeon, and B. Hammouda, "Designing Balanced Surfactants for Mixtures of Immiscible Polymers", Macromolecules 34, 6557-6560 (2001)
  • B. Hammouda, D. Ho and S. Kline, "Neutron Scattering from Associating PEO Systems", Macromolecules 35, 8578-8585 (2002)
  • J.H. Lee, N.P. Balsara, A.K. Chakraborty, R. Krishnamoorti and B. Hammouda, "Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior of Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends with Attractive and Repulsive Interactions", Macromolecules 35; 7748-7757 (2002)
  • A.V. Ruzette, A. Mayes, M. Pollard, T. Russell and B. Hammouda, "Pressure Effects on the Phase Behavior of Styrene/n-Alkyl Methacrylate Block Copolymers", Macromolecules 36, 3351-3356 (2003)
  • D. Ho, B. Hammouda, and S. Kline, "Clustering of Poly(ethylene oxide) in Water Revisited", J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed. 41, 135-138 (2003)

Some Recent Publications:


  • B. Hammouda, D. Ho and S. Kline, "Insight into Clustering in Poly(ethylene oxide) Solutions", Macromolecules 37, 6932-6937 (2004)
  • B. Hammouda, F. Horkay and M. Becker, "Clustering and Solvation in Poly(acrylic acid) Polyelectrolyte Solutions", Macromolecules 38, 2019-2021 (2005).
  • D.F.R. Mildner, B. Hammouda and S. Kline, "A Refractive Focussing Lens System for SANS", J. Appl. Cryst. 38, 979-987 (2005).
  • D. Ho, B. Hammouda, S. Kline and WR Chen, "Unusual Phase Behavior in Mixtures of Poly(ethylene oxide) and Ethyl Alcohol", J. Polymer Science, Polym. Phys. Ed. 44, 557-564 (2006).
  • L. A. Hough , M. F. Islam, B. Hammouda, A. G. Yodh, and P. A. Heiney, "Structure of High Weight Fraction Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Suspensions and Gels", Nano Letters 6, 313-317 (2006).
  • B. Hammouda, "Solvation Characteristics of a Model Water-Soluble Polymer", J. Polymer Science, Polymer Phys. Ed. 44, 3195-3199 (2006)
  • B. Hammouda and D. Worcester, "The Denaturation Transition of DNA in Mixed Solvents", Biophysical Journal, 91, 2237-2242 (2006).
  • B. Hammouda and D. Mildner, "SANS Resolution with Refractive Optics", J. Appl. Cryst. 40, 250-259 (2007).
  • A.E. Whitten, D.A. Jacques, B. Hammouda, T. Hanley, G.F. King, J.M. Guss, J. Trewhella, and D.B. Langley, "The structure of the Sda-KinA Complex Suggests an Allosteric Mechanism of Histidine Kinase Inhibition", J. Molecular Biology 368, 407-420 (2007).
  • B. Hammouda and D. Ho, "Insight into Chain Dimensions in PEO/Water Solutions", J. Polymer Science, Polym. Phys. Ed. 45, 2196-2200 (2007).
  • T. Owen, R. Pynn, B. Hammouda and A. Butler, "Metal-Dependent Self Asembly of a Microbial Surfactant", Langmuir 23, 9393-9400 (2007).
  • F. Horkay and B. Hammouda, "SANS From Model Synthetic and Biopolymer Solutions", Colloid and Polymer Science, 286, 611-620 (2008).
  • G. Cheng, F. Hua, Y.B. Melnichenko, K. Hong, J.W. Mays, B. Hammouda, and G.D. Wignall, "Association and Structure of Thermosensitive Comblike Block Copolymers in Aqueous Solutions", Macromolecules 41, 4824-4827 (2008).
  • B. Foster, T. Cosgrove, and B. Hammouda, "Pluronic Triblock Copolymer Systems and Their Interactions with Ibuprofen", Langmuir 25, 6760-7666 (2009).
  • R.A. Hule, R.P. Nagarkar, B. Hammouda, J.P. Schneider and D.J. Pochan, .Dependence of Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogel Network Structure on Local Fibril Nanostructure., Macromolecules 42, 7137-7145 (2009).

Postdoctoral Associateship Opportunities:


    The National Research Council offers postdoctoral associateship opportunities in our facility at NIST. The successful candidate will be doing research in our area of focus and using our outstanding neutron scattering facilities. US citizenship is required. Selection is highly competitive. Application deadlines are February 1st and August 1st each year. More info can be found here. Check out this abstract. If interested, please contact me at the address below.

Address:


    Boualem Hammouda
    National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Center for Neutron Research
    100 Bureau Drive, Stop 6102
    Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102

    Email address: hammouda@nist.gov
Last modified 15-October-2009