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Dr. Janusz Grebowicz

Dr. Janusz Grebowicz

Dr. Janusz Grebowicz

Professor PhysicsNatural Sciences
Email
grebowiczj@uhd.edu
Phone
713-221-2756
Office
S812

Biography

Dr. Janusz Grebowicz is a native of Poland. He grew up primarily in the city of Łódź (Poland) where he received his education. He received an MS degree in Physics from the University of Łódź, with a concentration in Experimental Physics. His MS project was on Polymer Physics, development of experimental methods of characterization morphology of semi-crystalline polymers. Soon after, he was appointed researcher at the Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences. There he received his Ph.D. on research on Polymer Blends. The next step in his career was a series of post-doctoral studies at: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY), Max Planck Institute (Mainz, Germany), and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. During this period he became a world-class specialist in Thermal Analysis. For over a decade he worked for Shell Oil, Westhollow Technology Center in Houston, as the head of the Thermal Analysis laboratory (global reach).

He is now a Professor of Physics at the University of Houston-Downtown. In 2014/15 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland, where he taught Thermophysical Properties of Materials for 1st and 2nd-year doctoral studies. His is devoted to the value of international education and helped to design the growing, unique exchange

Website

Degrees Earned

Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland, 1977

Post-doctoral studies

- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY - Polymer Physics

- Max Planck Institute, Mainz, Germany - Polymer liquid crystals

- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA - Polymer blends

MS in Physics, University of Lodz, 1969

Courses Taught

  • College and University Physics I and II, and corresponding labs

  • 3402 Thermophysical Properties of Materials, Lecture and Lab

  • 3300 Undergraduate Research in Physics

  • 3399 Physics, Workshop on Thermal Properties of Oil ShalesSpecialty Methods for the Study of High Temperature Materials

  • Modern Material Technologies

Experience Qualifications

Experience

  • University of Houston-Downtown, Professor of Chemistry and Physics, 2004- present
  • Shell Chemicals, Westhollow Technolog Center, Houston TX, Staff Research Physicist, 1989 - 2004
  • SC Johnson Wax, Racine WI Senior Research Scientist 1988 - 1989

Research Interest

Areas of Specialization/ Research Interests

Solid State Physics/Polymer Physics

Material Structure-Processing-Properties Relationship Thermal Analysis:

    • Thermal Properties of Materials (low molecular weight and polymers)

    • Thermal Properties of Geological Materials: Hydrocarbon Bearing Rocks, Geological Materials for Underground Repositories of Spent Nuclear Fuels

    • Hybrid energy systems

Familiarity with classes of materials

  • Polymers: Thermoplastic Homopolymers, Copolymers and Polymer Blends, Elastomers, Thermosets, Mesophase Materials, Films, Fibers, Granules, Bulk materials, Powders and downstream products.

  • Small Molecules: Bisphenol A, Lubricants, Gasoline, Additives, Solid Contaminants, Polymorphism, Liquid Crystals.

  • Exploration &Production: Oil shales, Coal, Minerals, Crude oil, Rocks for permanent geological repository of nuclear waste.

More Information

Honors and Awards

  • 2014/15 Fulbright Scholar at Akademia Gorniczo-Hutnicza (AGH) University of Science and Technology Krakόw, Poland.
  • 2019 Chemistry and Analytical Techniques International Conference, San Francisco
    • Keynote speaker
    • Chair of Symposium
    • Signatory for the conference
  • Chaired four international symposia
  • GOPE (Gas, Oil, Petroleum Engineering), San Francisco, 2019
  • Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Conference, Budapest, 2017
  • International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Warsaw, 2002
  • American Chemical Society, San Francisco, 1999

International Expert for PONdER (Public Opinion of Nuclear Energy) project,Nanyang Technological University, Singapore , 2017-2018
Featured in "Who is Who in Thermal Analysis", published in 2015

Publications

Publications

Books

1. B. Wunderlich, M. Moller, J. Grebowicz. H. Baur

Conformational Motion and disorder in Low and High Molecular Mass Crystals; Advances in Polymer Science 87, Springer-Verlag

2. J. Menczel, J. Grebowicz

Handbook of Differential Scanning Calorimetry; in print with Elseviere

LIST of REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

(In bold names of UHD undergraduate students)

73. R. A. Lalancette, D. Syzdek, J. Grebowicz, E. Arslan, I. Bernal, The Thermal Decomposition and Analyses of Metal Tris-Acetylacetonates: Free Radical Formation from Al, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co Complexes, Journal of Therm Anal Calorim (2019) 135: 3463.

72. R. A. Lalancette, E. Arslan, I. Bernal, D. Willhelm, J. Grebowicz, M. Pluta, The Thermochemistry and Crystallography of the Metal Tris-Acetylacetonates. Part 2: Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 131 (3), 2809-2819, 2018. 2, 2018.

71. The Crystallography and Thermochemistry of Metal Tris-Acetylacetonates. Part 3. Additional Data on Al, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co., D. Syzdek, J. Grebowicz, E. Arslan, R. A. Lalancette, I. Bernal, Sent for publication to Thermochemica Acta.

70. R. A. Lalancette, E. Arslan, I. Bernal, D. Willhelm, J. Grebowicz, M. Pluta. The Thermochemistry of Metal Tris-Acetylacetonates. Part 1. Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 131(3), 2809-19, 2018.

69. I. Taraghi, S. Paszkiewicz, A. Buchard, J. Grebowicz, A. Fereidoon and Z. Roslaniec, Nanocomposites of Polymeric Biomaterials Containing Carbonate Groups: An Overview, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2017, 1700042.

67. J. Grebowicz, Understanding thermal properties of oil shales at high temperature ftoward application of nuclear energy in extraction of natural hydrocarbons, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, June 2014, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp 1481-1490.

66. Thermotropic mesomorphism in catanionic surfactants synthesized from quaternary ammonium surfactants and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate: Effect of chain length and symmetry; R.Jose, T. J. Patel, T. A. Cather, D. Willhelm, J. Grebowicz, H. Han, P. Kumar Bhowmik, L. Sharpnack, D. Mae Agra-Kooijman, and S. Kumar, Colloids and Surfaces, A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 461, 40-49 (2014).

65. J. Grebowicz, Thermal Properties of Oil Shales at High Temperature: Towards Integration of Nuclear Power with Production of Natural Hydrocarbons, Proceedings of 41th NATAS Conference, August, 2013.

64. Z. Jaco and Janusz Grebowicz, Combined Methods of Thermal Analysis for Characterization of Rocks Containing Hydrocarbons, Proceedings of 41th NATAS Conference, August, 2013.

63. S. Massoud, E. Taylor, Y. Liu, J. Grebowicz, R. Vicente, R. Lalancette, U. Mukhopadhyay, I. Bernal and S. F. Watkins; Synthesis, Structure, Thermal, Magnetic Properties and Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Bridged [Bis(di(2-pyridylmethyl)amine)-(μ2-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane)-tetraperchlorato-dicopper(II)] Dihydrate Complex (I), CrystEngComm, 2014, 16, 175-183.

62. R. Jose, T. J. Patel, T. A. Cather, J. Grebowicz, H. Han, P. K. Bhowmik, D. M. Agra-Kooijman, S. Kumar; Room temperature thermotropic liquid crystalline phases of catanionic surfactants derived from quaternary ammonium surfactants and bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 411 (2013) 61-68.

61. F. R. Louka, M. L. Spell, J. Grebowicz, J. H. Albering, F. A. Mautner, S. S. Massoud; "Coordination Chemistry of 1,4-bis{bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl}benzene with copper(II), Journal of Molec. Struc. 995 (2011) 103-108.

60. F.A Mautner, J. Grebowicz, P.J. Deifik, R.S. Perkins, S.S. Massoud; "Structural characterization of copper(II) complexes based on a new 10-membered binucleating 1,6-diazecine ligand", Journal of Molec. Struc., 933 (2009) 69-76.

59. S.S. Massoud, E. Druel, M. Dufort, R. Lalancette, J. Kitchen, J. Grebowicz, R. Vicente, U. Mukhopadhyay, I. Bernal, F. A. Mautner; Versatile binding properties of di-pyridyl ligands with Cu(II) complexes. The syntheses, structural characterization and thermal analysis of six new species, Polyhedron, 28 (2009) 3849-57.

58. H.H. Chuah, J. Grebowicz, D. R. Kelsey, J.M. Olvera, B. Scardino and C. Tse; Effects of Isophtalate Comonomer on Poly(trimethylene terephtalate) Fiber Spinning and Properties, Accepted for publication in J. Applied Polymer Science, (2009).

57. F. R. Louka, F. A. Mautner, J. Grebowicz , R. S. Perkins, S. S. Massoud, Structural characterization of copper(II) complexes based on a new 10-membered binucleating 1,6-diazecine ligand , J. Molec. Struc., 933 (2009) 69-76

56. J. S. Grebowicz and R.N. French; Phase structure and sorption-desorption in Poly(trimethylene terephtalate)(PTT); Thermochimica Acta, 396, 133 (2003).

55. J-M. Olvera, H.H. Chuah and J.S. Grebowicz; Crystallization of Poly(Trimethylene terephtalate)(PTT), Paper presented at the 30th NATAS Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23-25 (2002). See Proceedings, pg. 223.110

54. Y-Z. Hu, C. Chamchoumis, J.S. Grebowicz and R.P. Thummel; Unique 2:1 Complex with trans-Chelating Bis-Pyridine Ligand, Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2296 (2002)

53. B. Wang, C.Y. Li, J. Hanzlicek, S.Z.D. Cheng, P.H. Geil, J.S. Grebowicz, R.-M. Ho, "Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) crystal structure and morphology in different length scales" Polymer, 42(16), 7171-7180 (2001)

52. J.S. Grebowicz, H. Brown, H. Chuah, J.M. Olvera, A. Wasiak, P. Sajkiewicz and A. Ziabicki; Deformation of undrawn poly(trimethylene terephtalate) (PTT) fibers, Polymer, 42, 7153 (2001).

51. M. Pyda, M.L. Di Lorenzo, J. Pak, P.Kamasa, A. Buzin, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich; Reversible and Irreversible Heat Capacity of Poly[carbonyl(ethylene-co-propylene)] by Temperature -Modulated Calorimetry, J. Polymer Sci: Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol. 39, 1565 (2001).

50. D.R. Kelsey, B.M Scardino, J.S. Grebowicz and H.H. Chuah; High Impact, Amorphous Terephtalate Copolyester of Rigid 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol with Flexible Diols, Macromolecules, 33, 5810 (2000).

49. M. Levin, J.M. Olvera, C. Garcia and J. Grebowicz; A Study of the Energetics of Oligomer/Polymer Decomposition, Proceedings AIChE South Texas Section 1998 Process Plant Safety Symposium (Oct. 26-27, 1998).

48. H. Brown, C. Hwo and. J. Grebowicz, Poly(trimethylene terephtalate) Polymer for Spunbond and Meltblown Fibers, Proceedings of the 8th TANDEC Meeting, Knoxville, TN, 1998 8th, Paper 5.2.

47. M. Pyda, A. Boller, J. Grebowicz, H. Chuah, B.V. Lebedev and B. Wunderlich; Heat capacity of Poly(trimethylene terephtalate), J. Polym. Sci: Part B: Polym. Phys., 36, 2499 (1998).

46. K. Yshikiriyama, M. Pyda, G. Zhang, T. Forschner, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich; Heat Capacity of Poly-p-dioxanone, J. Macomol. Sci.- Phys., B37(1), 27 (1998).

45. J. S. Grebowicz; Thermal Properties of Polycarbonate Grade Bisphenol A, J. Thermal Anal., 46, 1151 (1996).

44. J. S. Grebowicz; On the Formation of Liquid Crystalline Texture in Epoxy Resins, Makroml. Chem., Macromolecular Symp., 104, 191 (1996).

43. S. M. Beshouri, J.S. Grebowicz and H.H. Chuah; Thermal Properties of Poly(pivalolactone), Polym. Eng. Sci., 34(1), 69 (1994).

42. M. Varma-Nair, B. Wunderlich, J. Grebowicz and R. Bauer; Thermal Behavior of Epoxy Resins, Thermochim. Acta, 226, 99 (1993); also Proc. 21st NATAS Conference in Atlanta, GA, Sept 13-16, pgs. 54-59, (1992).

41. K. Liang, J. Grebowicz, E. Valles, F.E. Karasz and W.J. MacKnight; Thermal and Rheological Properties of Miscible Polyethersulfone/Polyimide Blends, J. Polymer Sci., Part B: Polymer Physics, 30, 465 (1992).

40. J. Grebowicz, M. Varma-Nair and B. Wunderlich; The Thermal Properties of Poly(pivalolactone), Polymers for Adv. Technol.,3, 51 (1992).

39. J. Grebowicz, Thermal Properties of Poly(vinylcyclohexane); Polymer Eng. and Sci., 32(17), 1228 (l992).

38. K. Liang, L. Wu, J. Grebowicz, F.E. Karasz and W.J. MacKnight; Miscibility Behavior in Poly(ethersulfone)/ Polyimide Blends with and without solvents, in Progress in Pacific Polymer Science, ed. B.C. Anderson and Y. Imaniski, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 1991, pp.213-225.

37. G. Smyth, E.M. Valles, S.K.Pollack, J.Grebowicz, P.J. Stenhouse, L.S. Hsu and W.J. MacKnight: Development of Crystallinity in a Polyuretane Containing Mesogenic Units. 1. Morphology and Mechanism; Macromolecules, 23, 3389, (1990).

36. K.J. Miller, H.B. Hollinger, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich, On the Conformations of Poly(p-xylylene) and Its Mesophase Transitions: Macromolecules, 23(16), 3855 (1990).

35. K. J. Miller, J. Grebowicz, J.P. Wesson and B. Wunderlich: Conformations of Poly(diethylosiloxane) and Its Mesophase Transitions: Macromolecules, 23(2), 851 (1990).

34. J. Grebowicz, R. Pan and B. Wunderlich: Thermal Properties of Drawn Poly(tetrafluoroethylene); J. Appl. Polymer Sci., 38, 707 (1989).

33. G. Smyth, J.Grebowicz, P. Stenhouse, W.J. MacKnight and S.W. Kantor: Thermal Transitions and Structure Analysis of a Mesomorphic Polyuretane; Proceedings of 17th NATAS Conference, Orlando, FL, 1988, p.424.

32. B. Wunderlich, M. Moeller, J. Grebowicz and H. Baur: Conformational Motion and Disorder in Low and High Molecular Mass Crystals; Advances in Polymer Sci., 87, 1- 121 (1988).

31. R. Rosenau-Eichin, M. Ballauff, J. Grebowicz, and E.W. Fischer: Structures and Thermal Transitions of Copolymers of metha-and para-Hydroxybenzoic Acids; Polymer 29, 58 (1988).

30. H. G. Wiedemann, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: Condis Crystals of Small Molecules. II. The Polymorphs of N, N'-bis(4-n-octyloxy benzal)-1,4-phenylenediamine ( OOPDA); Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 140, 219 (1986).

29. J. Grebowicz, S. Cheng and B. Wunderlich: Kinetics of Transitions Involving Condis Crystals; J. Polym. Sci., Polymer Phys. Ed. 24, 675 (1986).

28. J. Grebowicz, W. Aycock and B. Wunderlich: Heat Capacities of 1, 4- Polybutadienes: Polymer 27, 575 (1986).

27. B. Wunderlich and J. Grebowicz: Thermal Analysis of Liquid Crystals and Condis Crystals; Amer. Chem. Soc. Polymer Sci. Preprints 26(1), 1 (1985), Miami, FL, update: Analysis of Condis Crystals, in "Integration of Fundamental Polymer Science and Technology", II, P. J. Lemstra and L.A. Kleinjiens, eds., Elsevier, London 1988.

26. H. Suzuki, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: Glass Transition of Polyoxymethylene; Brit. Polymer J. 17, 1(1985).

25. H. Suzuki, J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: Heat Capacity of Semicrystalline, Linear Polyoxymethylene and Polyoxyethylene; Makromol. Chem. 186, 1109 (1985).

24. J. Grebowicz, H. Suzuki and B. Wunderlich: Heat Capacities of Polyethylene and Linear Aliphatic Polyoxides; Polymer 26, 561(1985).

23. B. Wunderlich and J. Grebowicz: Do Condis Crystals Exist?; in Polymeric Liquid Crystals, p. 145, A. Blumstein ed., Plenum 1985.

22. J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: On Cp to Cv Conversion for Solid Linear Macromolecules; J. Thermal Anal. 30, 227 (1985).

21. B. Wunderlich and J. Grebowicz: Characterization of Conformationally Disordered Crystals by DSC; Am. Chem. Soc. Org. Coating Appl. Polymer Sci. Preprints 50, 144 (1984).

20. J. Grebowicz, S.-F. Lau and B. Wunderlich: Thermal Properties of Polypropylene; J. Polymer Sci., Polymer Symp. 71, 19 (1984).

19. B. Wunderlich and J. Grebowicz: Thermotropic Mesophases of Linear, Flexible Macromolecules; Adv. Polymer Sci. 60/61, 1(1984).

18. J. Grebowicz: Mesophase Polypropylene; ibid. p. 303.

17. H.G. Wiedeman, J. Grebowicz, J. Wesson and B. Wunderlich: Investigation and Discussion of Liquid Crystals, Plastic Crystals and Condis Crystals by Microscopy and Calorimetry; Proc. 12th NATAS Conference, Williamsburg, VA, J.C. Buckled. p. 259 (1983).

16. A. Galeski, J. Grebowicz and M. Kryszewski: Interpenetration of Spherulites in Polymer Blends; Makromol. Chem. 184, 184 (1983).

15. J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: Phase Transition in Mesophase Macromolecules. 4. The Transitions in Poly(oxy-2-2'-dimethylazoxybenzene-4,4'-diyloxydodecanedioyl); J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed. 21, 141 (1983).

14. A. Wrobel, J. Kowalski, J. Grebowicz and M. Kryszewski: Thermal Decomposition of Plasma- Polymerized Organosilicon Thin Films; J. Macromol: Sci., Chem. A17.3, 433 (1982).

13. B. Wunderlich and J. Grebowicz: Glass Transition of Mesophase Macromolecules; Thermal Analysis, Proc. 7th ICTA Meeting, B. Miller ed. Hayden-Willey, Chichester, Vol. 2, p. 1084 (1982).

12. J. Grebowicz and B. Wunderlich: The Glass Transition of p-Alkyl-p'-Alkoxy-Azoxybenzene Mesophases; Molec. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. L6, 287 (1982).

11. J. Grebowicz and T. Pakula: Crystallization and Melting of Components in Polyethylene- Polypropylene Blends: in Polymer Blends: Processing, Morphology and Properties; E. Martuscelli, R. Palumbo and M. Kryszewski eds. Plenum Press, N.Y. 1980.

10. J. Grebowicz, V. Shilov, Yu. Lebedev, V. Privalko, Yu. Lipatov and M. Kryszewski: The Phase Structure and Some Mechanical Properties of Polystyrene-Poly(methyl metacrylate) Blends; Polimery-Tworzywa 12, 37 (1980).

9. J. Grebowicz, T. Pakula, A. Wrobel and M. Kryszewski: Phase Structure of Thin Polysilazane Films Obtained by Glow Discharge Polymerization; Thin Solid Films 65, 351(1980).

8. T. Pakula, J. Grebowicz and M. Kryszewski: The Kinetics of Spontaneous Changes in Phase Structure of Molten Two-Component Polymer Systems; Polymer Bull. 2, 799 (1980).

7. J. Grebowicz, Z. Pelzbauer, T. Pakula and M. Kryszewski: Scanning E.M. studies of Helically-Oriented Polypropylene Fibers; Polymer 20, 1281(1979).

6. J. Grebowicz, T. Pakula and M. Kryszewski: The influence of Phase Structure on Young Modulus of Polystyrene-Polypropylene and Polystyrene-Polyethylene Blends; Polimery-Tworzywa (Polish) 12, 425 (1978).

5. M. Kryszewski, A. Galeski, T. Pakula and J. Grebowicz: Supermolecular Structure of Polyethylene- Polypropylene Blends; Vysokomol. Soed. 7, 1969 (1974).

4. T. Pakula, M. Kryszewski, J. Grebowicz and A. Galeski: Two-Dimensional Model of Mechanical Properties of Polymer Blends: Application to Polyethylene and Polypropylene Blends; Polymer J. 2, 94 (1974).

3. M. Kryszewski, A. Galeski, T. Pakula and J. Grebowicz: Transport Phenomena in Polymer Blends; J. Colloid Interph. Sci. 1, 85 (1973).

2. M. Kryszewski, A. Galeski, T. Pakula and J. Grebowicz: Supermolecular Structures in Blends of Polyethylene and Polypropylene with Ethylene-Propylene Rubber; Collection of Papers on Composite Materials, Nauka, Kiev, 1973.

1. M. Kryszewski, A. Galeski, T. Pakula and J. Grebowicz: Supermolecular Structure in Blends of Polypropylene and Ethylene-Propylene Rubber; J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 15, 1139 (1971).