Brief C.V.
Dr. Paul Bernazzani
Awards and Education
- Recipient of the Lamar University Faculty Advisor of the Year Award, 2012
- Recipient of the Lamar University Merit Award, 2009
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Texas, 2003
- Ph.D. in Biophysics, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivieres, Canada, 2000
- M.S. in Physical Chemistry, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada, 1995
- B.S. in Chemistry, University of Montreal, Canada, 1992,
Academic Experience
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2010-present
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Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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2009-present
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Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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2003-2009
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Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Physics
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1999-2000
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University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Lecturer, Department of Chemistry
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Laboratory Experience
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1995-1996
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Molecular Spectroscopy Laboratory, Department of Chemistry,
University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada,
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<1992-1993
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Surface Science Laboratory, Department of Chemistry,
University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada,
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Professional Society Activities
Reviewer for: Journal of Polymer Science: Part B. Polymer Physic
Co-Organizer of the NATEX Meeting
Alternate Councelor of the local section of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
Secretary of the South-East Section of the North American Thermal Analysis and Rhelology (NATex)
Member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS)
Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Member of the American Physical Society (APS)
Member of the North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS)
Member of the Society of Rheology (SoR)
Member of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE)
Research Interests
Physical Properties of Polymer Glasses
Nanoscale determination of Physical Properties of Polymer Glasses Using Molecular Probes
Related poster presentation
Glasses have been the subject of a great deal of interest in the last fifty years. Models of structure recovery have provided an adequate understanding of the metastable behavior of glasses. However, these models are known to provide a very incomplete picture making glasses an area where understanding still lacks severely. Most of the work in this area has centered on following the recovery towards equilibrium of macroscopic properties such as volume and enthalpy after various thermal histories leading the samples to the glass phase. Recent studies have shown that the effect of size on the glass transition can be followed up to the nanometer scale.(1) During my master’s and doctorate work, we developed a methodology using infrared spectroscopy and molecular probes to quantitatively evaluate the presence of rigid amorphous regions in semi-crystalline polymers. Changes in thermal history can lead to variations in the relative phase composition of the sample. This implies that the evolution of glasses could possibly be followed using molecular probes. We use infrared imaging techniques to follow the changes in molecular probes during the structural recovery of glasses. Variations in probe position as well as conformational changes in the probe could lead to better understanding of the glass transition. This should lead to improved models of structure recovery and better predictive ability.
1. McKenna G. B. Journal de physique IV, 2002, 10 (P7), 53.
Nanocalorimetry-FTIR for Phase Determination of Complex Materials
Use of a Nanocalorimeter – FTIR Hybrid Instrument to Solve Kinetic and Complex
Phase determination Problems
Epoxy resins have a wide range of applications including adhesives, coatings and encapsulation of electronic compounds. Contributing to their versatility is the ability to cure the low viscosity reactants to a desired form on site. In order to optimize the properties as well as the processing time, knowledge of the effect of the cure schedule on the final properties is essential. For example, it was shown that residual stresses could be avoided by reducing the heterogeneity of the temperature field during cure (1). The properties of epoxy resins are related to the network morphology which is itself determined by the mechanism and kinetics of cure. Thermal analysis methods can directly measure the heat evolved during reaction. The challenge then consists in linking this information to the detailed reaction mechanism and kinetics. Molecular spectroscopy, particularly in the infrared region of the spectrum, has been used successfully to determine the structure of epoxy resins. Very few studies, however, use in vivo determination of the resins structure as it cures. In fact, the handful of studies using hybrid instruments combining differential thermal analysis with infrared spectroscopy has mostly centered on inorganic components. The recent development of nanocalorimetry (2) makes it possible to precisely measure and control cure history while in a standard infrared spectrometer. I plan to study structure-property relationships in epoxy resins by using a novel version of hybrid FTIR-DSC involving a nanocalorimeter. The cure kinetics will be monitored simultaneously with the structural or chemical changes. The degree to which the resin structure are sensitive to the cure history as well as to polymer type and impurity levels such as water content will be investigated.
1. Rozenberg B. A. Fibre Science and Technology, 1983, 19, 77.
2. Merzlyakov M. and Shick C. “Integrated circuit thermopile as a new type of temperature modulated calorimeter”, Proceedings of the 30th North American Thermal Analysis Society,September 23-25, 2000, Pittsburgh, PA, p 714
Investigation of the Interactions of Water Molecules with Biopolymers
All biopolymers such as starch and cellulose have structural and physical properties that are strongly related to their water content. Although the role of water is still not well understood, it is thought that it may modify the mobility of polymer chains and influence the degree of entanglement.(1) In addition, the crystalline content of the polymer as well as the molecular conformations of the chains are related to the pH and hence the amount of water. Since in addition to the quantity of water, the origin of the biopolymer has a bearing on the chain morphology, it is difficult to make a comprehensive study of the effect of water content. Studies that have approached the problem have mostly been centered on the relationship between physical properties and water content, without addressing the biopolymer water interaction. During my doctoral research, I have studied the phase content of amylose, a major component of starch, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We found that although the water content was important in determining the phase content, of more significance was the fact that the way the water was absorbed by the sample had an even greater influence on the phase content. However, the water-biopolymer interactions were not further explored. We investigate these interactions using FTIR spectroscopy combined with DSC and thermogravimetric analysis to measure the water-related weight loss. Using these methods, for a systematic sampling of starches and cellulose from different sources, the chemical interactions between water and polymer chains will be investigated. Since it is expected that a major effect of water molecules on the polymer chains will be the changes in molecular conformations the comprehensive study of the water-biopolymer interactions will play an important role in determining the phase composition of starches and cellulose and by the same way, their physical properties. determination of these will yield improvements in the usefulness of these materials.
1. S. H. D. Hulleman, F. H. P. Janssen and H. Feil, Polymer, 1998, 39(10), 2043.
Biodegradable Polymer
Biodegradable Polymer Strength determination and Prediction
Recently, a great deal of interest has been invested in the production of biodegradable polymers. Although the general consensus is that the wide use of such polymers would be beneficial to all, the present production of biodegradable polymers is still low compared to overall polymer production. This is because other commodity plastics are both inexpensive and familiar to the consumer. To make biopolymers competitive, it is imperative that they have physical properties similar to those of the synthetic polymers to be replaced. (1) A major point of research interest is the control of the overall strength of biodegradable polymers. This can be attempted in numerous ways, either by mixing biodegradable material with lower molecular weight synthetic polymers, stiffening the polymer chain by substituting some aliphatic diacid building blocks with more rigid aromatic diacids or by increasing inter-chain bonding for example with hydrogen bonds or covalent bonds. These methodologies have encountered some degree of success but due to a lack of understanding of the structure-property relationships, are far from competitively threatening synthetic polymers. In recent investigations we have studied the thermal and rheological properties of blends and polymers as a function of entanglement concentration. We have shown that although the glass transition did not depend on degree of entanglement, physical properties varied with many other factors including the molecular weight and thermal history of the polymer, making predictive determinations difficult. I wish to investigate the structure-property relationships of biodegradable polymers, including blends of starch and synthetic-polymer with an aim of predicting polymer strength. Investigation of the physical interaction between the polymeric chains will be done using thermal degradation (TGA), component analysis (FTIR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). My goal is to develop a methodology that would enable the prediction of the overall strength of a biodegradable polymer from the blend components and the thermal history.
1. D. L. Kaplan, E. Thomas and C. Ching, Biodegradable Materials and Packaging, Technomic Press, Lancaster, PA, 1993, pp 411.
High Pressure Behavior of Proteins
Publications
Refereed Journal articles
- P. Bernazzani, R. F. Sanchez, (2009) “Structural and Thermal Behavior of Polystyrene Thin Films Using ATR-FTIR-NanoDSC Measurements” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 96, 727-732.
- Y. Meng, P. Bernazzani, P. A. O'Connell, G. B. McKenna, S. L. Simon, (2009) "A New Pressurizable Dilatometer for Measuring the Time-dependent Bulk Modulus and Pressure-Volume-Temperature Properties of Polymeric Material" Review of Scientific Instruments, 80, 053903-1-053903-9.European Physical Journal – Soft Matter, 26, 427-434.
- P. Bernazzani, R. F. Sanchez, (2008) “Effect of Substrate Interactions on the Melting Behavior of Thin Polyethylene Films” European Physical Journal – Soft Matter, 26, 427-434.
- P. Bernazzani, R. F. Sanchez, M. Woodward, S. Williams, (2008) “determination of the Glass Transition Temperature of Thin Unsupported Polystyrene Films Using Interference Fringes” Thin Solid Films, 516, 7947-7951.
- P. Bernazzani, V. K. Peyyavula, S. Agarwal, R. K. Tatikonda, (2008) "Evaluation of the Phase Composition of Amylose by FTIR and Isothermal Immersion Heats" Polymer, 49, 4150-4158
- P. Bernazzani, H. K. R. Pandi, V. K. Peyyavula (2008) “Structural Changes Associated with Interactions Between Starch and Particles of TiO2 or ZnSe” Scientific Journals International: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2, 1-13.
- Z. Ferhat-Hamida, H. P. Nguyen, P. Bernazzani, A. Haine, G. delmas (2007) “LLDPE's grown with Metallocene and Ziegler-Natta catalysts: events in the melt and FTIR analysis” Journal of Material Science, 42, 3138-3154.
- S. L. Simon, P. Bernazzani, (2006) Structural Relaxation in the Glass: Evidence for a Path dependence of the Relaxation Time, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 352, 4763-4768.
- S. L. Simon, P. Bernazzani and G. B. McKenna, (2003) Effect of freeze-drying on the glass transition of cyclic polystyrene, Polymer, 44, 8025-8032.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, (2002) Volume recovery of polystyrene: evolution of the characteristic relaxation time, Journal of Non-Crystalline solids, 307-310C, 470-480.
- P. Bernazzani, S. L. Simon, D. J. Placek, K. L. Ngai, (2002) Effects of entanglement concentration on Tg and local segmental motions, European Physical Journal, 8, 201-207.
- P. Bernazzani and F. Paquin, (2001) Miniature spectrometers in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory, Journal of Chemical Education, 78, 796-798.
- P. Bernazzani, C. Chapados, G. delmas, (2001) Phase change in amylose-water mixtures as seen by Fourier transform infrared, Biopolymers, 58, 3, 305-318.
- P. Bernazzani, C. Chapados and G. delmas, (2000) Qualitative evaluation of amylose phase composition by FTIR and isothermal immersion values, J. of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics, 38, 12, 1662-1677.
- P. Bernazzani, V. Bich, H. Phuong-Nguyen, A. Haine, C. Chapados, L. Dao and G. delmas (1998) FTIR analysis of the phase content in low density polyethylene, Canadian J. of chemistry, 76, 1674-1687.
- P. Bernazzani and G. delmas, (1997) Analysis of physical and chemical networks by slow DSC and turbidimetry, J. of Thermal Analysis, 49, 449-454.
- X. Zhang, H. Phuong Nguyen, P. Bernazzani, I. Lapes, G. delmas, (1997) Information on the noncrystalline phase of nascent iPP given by slow calorimetry, Canadian journal of Chemistry V 75, N10, p1354-1362.
Proceedings Articles
- P. Bernazzani and B. A. McKinley, Proceedings of the 37th conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society, Lubbock, TX, September 2009
- P. Bernazzani and R. F. Sanchez, Proceedings of the 36th conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society, Atlanta, GA, August 2008
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference (ANTEC) for the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), “depression of Tg in Polystyrene by Freeze-drying”, Nashville, May 2003.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the 30th conference on North American Thermal Analysis Society, “Evolution of the Characteristic Relaxation Time for Volume of Polystyrene”, Pittsburgh, September 2002, 159-165.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the 30th conference on North American Thermal Analysis Society, “Effect of Entanglement Concentration on Tg in Polystyrene Samples”, Pittsburgh, September 2002, 172-177.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference (ANTEC) for the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), “Structural Recovery in Polymers: Novel Temperature and Pressure Perturbation Experiments”, San Francisco, May 2002, 1998-2002.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the 29th conference on North American Thermal Analysis Society, “Volume Recovery in Glass-Forming Polymers: A Novel Perturbation Experiment”, St-Louis, September 2001, 408-413.
- P. Bernazzani and S. L. Simon, Proceedings of the Annual Technical Conference (ANTEC) for the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), “Investigation of the volume recovery of glass-forming polymers”, Dallas, Texas, May 2001, 1790-1794.
- P. Bernazzani, C. Chapados and G. delmas, Proceedings of the 27th conference on North American Thermal Analysis Society, “Thermal investigation of amylose phase composition: correlation of DSC and FTIR techniques”, Savannah, Ga, September 1999.
- H. P. Nguyen, P. Bernazzani and G. delmas, Proceedings of the 27th conference on North American Thermal Analysis Society, “Investigation of entangled chains in semi-crystalline and amorphous polymers by a novel calorimetric technique”, Savannah, Ga, September 1999.
- P. Bernazzani, P. H. Nguyen and G. delmas, Proceeding of the, American Chemical Society division of polymeric materials, “Variation with temperature (50-250°C) of the absorption spectrum in the CH2 rocking region of polyethylene”, Washington, 1994.
- P. Bernazzani and G. delmas, Proceedings of the 9th International conference on Fourier transform spectroscopy, “Variation with temperature (50-250°C) of the absorption spectrum in the CH2 rocking region of polyethylene”, Calgary, Alberta, august 1993.
- P. Bernazzani, C. Cassou and G. delmas, Proceedings of the 9th International conference on Fourier transform spectroscopy, “Melting of deuterated polyethylene as studied by FTIR and calorimetry”, Calgary, Alberta, August 1993.
