Extinction mapping of polycrystalline patterns

Descriptions of polycrystalline patterns require the quantitative characterization of the organization of many crystallites. Automated linear birefringence imaging systems developed during the past 15 years are well suited to mapping crystallite orientation. Here, the rotating polarizer method is applied to the optical textures of polycrystalline phthalic acid spherulites. Thin-film polycrystalline patterns are best characterized by automated extinction imaging, here applied to richly textured phthalic acid ensembles.