The optical behavior of spherulites in crystalline polymers. Part II. The growth and structure of the spherulites

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Abstract
Extinction patterns observed in spherulites of a number of polymers are shown to be in good agreement with the theoretical extinction curves calculated in Part I. The results establish the existence of regularly twisting crystal orientation in many of these spherulites. In the case of polyethylene the morphology of the spherulites is discussed in detail. Some consideration is given to the mechanisms by which fibrous spherulites are formed in polymer melts. Evidence is presented for the view that radiating fibrils grow and branch as fine dendritic crystals. Preferred molecular orientations in polymer spherulites are explained qualitatively on this basis.