Previous work has shown that polymethacrylates with highly tapered side groups, such as poly{2-{2-[2-(2-methacryloyloxyethoxy)-ethoxy]ethoxy}ethyl-3,4,5-tris-(p-dodecyloxy-benzyloxy)benzoate} (H12-ABG-4EO-PMA), form columnar hexagonal (Col h , previously designated v h ) liquid crystalline structures. The small angle X-ray data for drawn fibers of H12-ABG-4EO-PMA, and also those of its hydroxy-terminated monomer precursor and decyloxy-homologue, contain several weak equatorial Bragg reflections in addition to those characteristic of the Col h phase. The intensities of these extra reflections decline progressively on heating and disappear before the temperature of the Col h -to-isotropic transition is reached. It is proposed that the as-drawn fibers contain a second phase, which is probably a columnar liquid crystalline structure in view of the decreases in the observed d-spacings with increasing temperature. The additional reflections are indexed by a two dimensional monoclinic lattice, which probably contains columns with elliptical cross-section. The lower symmetry is consistent with the formation of a tilted columnar phase analogous to those formed by certain low molecular weight discotic materials.

Previous work has shown that polymethacrylates with highly tapered side groups, such as poly{2‐{2‐[2‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethoxy)‐ethoxy]ethoxy}ethyl‐3,4,5‐tris‐(p‐dodecyloxy‐benzyloxy)benzoate} (H12‐ABG‐4EO‐PMA), form columnar hexagonal (Colh, previously designated φh) liquid crystalline structures. The small angle X‐ray data for drawn fibers of H12‐ABG‐4EO‐PMA, and also those of its hydroxy‐terminated monomer precursor and decyloxy‐homologue, contain several weak equatorial Bragg reflections in addition to those characteristic of the Colh phase. The intensities of these extra reflections decline progressively on heating and disappear before the temperature of the Colh‐to‐isotropic transition is reached. It is proposed that the as‐drawn fibers contain a second phase, which is probably a columnar liquid crystalline structure in view of the decreases in the observed d‐spacings with increasing temperature. The additional reflections are indexed by a two dimensional monoclinic lattice, which probably contains columns with elliptical cross‐section. The lower symmetry is consistent with the formation of a tilted columnar phase analogous to those formed by certain low molecular weight discotic materials.