Poly(acrylates-co-urethane) copolymers were synthesized by the polymerization of acrylates and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate terminated polyurethane (prepolyurethane) at room temperature. The polymerization was initiated by the radicals, which were produced by the oxidation of tri-n-butylborane (TBB) from the mixing of TBB/hexamethylene diamine complex and diisocyanate decomplexer. The effects of prepolyurethane on the performances of copolymers were discussed. The results indicated that the damping property and flexibility of copolymers were obviously higher than that of pure polyacrylates. Dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscope results showed that PU was dispersed in polyacrylates phase very well. The copolymers were found to bond well to low surface energy materials because of introduction of PU. The lap shearing strength of copolymer bonding polypropylene or polyethylene both had the trend of first increase followed by decrease with the prepolyurethane content increase. The copolymers as adhesives were also shown to have a long working life and be suitable for utilization at low temperature especially at room temperature. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 3203-3210, 2010