In this study, water-borne coating formulations which could be cured quickly were prepared using acrylic emulsion as the major coating constituent and highly reactive melamine resin as curing agent, and further incorporating a variety of additives. Melamine and acrylic types, melamine/acrylic mass ratio in coating formulation, and curing temperature were found to influence the performance of cured coatings. When melamine resin etherified slightly with methanol was used as curing agent, melamine/acrylic mass ratio was 0.45 and the coating formulation was baked at 170 degrees C for 30 s, it was observed that performance of cured coating was the best. FTIR was used to study molecular structural changes of coatings after curing, and to analyze the cure mechanism of the coating. DSC was used to study the range of temperature in which curing occurred. The water-borne coating prepared in this study could be cured quickly when it was applied on decorative paper surface and baked at high temperature. Performance properties of cured coatings were tested according to standard methods, it was observed that dry heat resistance, wet heat resistance, adhesion, pencil hardness, and stain resistance all met standard requirements. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011