Professor Al-Kassab's research focuses on experimental and theoretical investigations to reveal the link between the physical properties, such as hardness or magnetic behavior of a material and the arrangements of its constitutional different species at the atomic scale.
His specific interest is directed toward topics including thermodynamics and phase separation in constitutional alloys and compounds, such as steels and superalloys; segregation effects along grain and interface boundaries particularly in nano-crystalline materials and thin film layers; internal oxidation and exploration of the metallic/nonmetallic (oxide, semiconductor) interface. Al-Kassab's work utilizes ultra-high resolution analytical experimental methods, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) to explore these arrangements within a nanometer environment. In addition, he is interested in developing basic numerical computer algorithms to model these atomic arrangements and finally design novel prospective materials with predictable properties, which can be used to serve the community.
