Adsorption of polystyrene latices containing an alkali-hydrolysable cationic emulsifier on filter papers pretreated with sodium carbonate was examined. Hydrolysis of the emulsifiers synchronized with adsorption of the latices on the paper could fix, or coat, polystyrene on the paper surface rapidly and efficiently at room temperature, and little amounts of polymers were desorbed by rinsing. In contrast, a smaller amount of the latices were adsorbed on the surface of the nonpretreated paper and most of them were desorbed from the surface by rinsing. The polymer-coated paper surface gained both water resistance and "quick drying." (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 1653-1657, 2009