New core-shell acrylic latexes designed for crosslinking with cycloaliphatic diepoxide were prepared. The core was prepared using methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and a-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The shell contained methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid. A strong acid acrylate was incorporated into the shell to catalyze the crosslinking reactions, and provide freeze-thaw stability. The crosslinker was co-emulsified with the monomer and added during the latex preparation. The put-lift: stability of epoxide was shown to be dependent on latex morphology, initiator system, and reaction conditions. The preparation of stable latex with minimum premature crosslinking required an ambient temperature shell polymerization via a redox initiator system under basic reaction conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.