Abstract The synthesis, thermal behavior, bulk microstructure, and wettability of new polyacrylates carrying spaced 4-perfluorohexylpropyl benzoate and 4-perfluorooctylpropyl benzoate units in the side groups were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis proved the formation of different smectic mesophases (SmI 2, SmF 2, and SmC 2) and the evolution of their structures and lattice parameters with temperature. The mesophase polymorphic ...