Styrene-free copolymers and coating compositions containing such copolymers

A food or beverage container, or a portion thereof, having a cured coating formed from an aqueous food or beverage container coating composition suitable for use in forming a food-contact coating of a metal food or beverage container, the cured coating being disposed on at least a portion of a metal substrate and wherein the coating composition comprised:

• an aqueous carrier;
• and
• a resin system dispersed in the aqueous carrier, wherein the resin system is substantially free of styrene and comprises:
• a water-dispersible polymer;
• and
• an emulsion polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprising:
• (iii) at least 30 wt-% of one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates;
• and
• (iv) more than 30 wt-% of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having a cycloaliphatic group.

A method of coating a food or beverage container comprising spray applying a coating composition onto an interior surface of a food or beverage container including a sidewall body portion and end portion, wherein the coating composition comprises:

• an aqueous carrier;
• and
• a resin system dispersed in the aqueous carrier, wherein the resin system is substantially free of styrene and comprises:
• a water-dispersible polymer;
• and
• an emulsion polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer component comprising:
• (i) at least 30 wt-% of one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates;
• and
• (ii) more than 30 wt-% of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having a cycloaliphatic group.