Re-Investigation on Periodic Assembly in Crystallized Poly(ethylene adipate) by Dissecting into Internal Architecture

Through microscopy analyses onto 3D-dissected interiors of crystallized poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA) at isothermal 28 °C temperatures that are known to pack with double ring-banded spherulites, complete surface-relief patterns correlating with interior periodic assembly profiles on mechanisms are obtained. Top-surface-relief ridge bands exhibit different width caused by slant angles between the interior radially orientated lamellae with respect to the top surface. The detailed interior structures gained from analyses on the dissected PEA spherulites yield critical correlations between the interior assembly and topology banding patterns, leading to a clue that analyses cannot be restricted to simply just on the top-surface-relief patterns. With advanced dissection techniques, 3D views on bulk interiors have offered dramatic breakthrough views and led to unique clarity in assembly mechanisms of periodic crystal aggregation.