An ambient self-curable latex (ASCL) was prepared via the blending of colloidal dispersions in water of a chloromethylstyrene-functionalized copolymer and a tertiary-amine-functionalized copolymer. Upon casting and drying under ambient conditions, the ASCL could generate crosslinked continuous polymer films. The cross-linking occurred via the Menschutkin reaction (quaternization) between the two types of functional groups. Because this reaction was reversible at high temperatures, the films could be decrosslinked and hence were self-curable. The prepared ASCL exhibited excellent colloidal and chemical stability during long-term storage: no significant changes in the colloidal properties, such as the particle size, electrophoretic mobility, and crosslinking reactivity, were observed after 48 months of storage. The electrophoretic measurements indicated that the electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged particles of the ASCL was responsible for the excellent stability. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.