Waterborne latex compositions having reactive pendant functional groups and methods of preparing the same

A waterborne reactive functional latex composition comprising

• a reactive functional latex polymer formed by free-radical emulsion polymerization of (a) a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer containing at least one amide group, and (b) an additional copolymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated monomer;
• an alkali hypohalide added to transform said amide group into isocyanate and/or amine groups;
• and
• (c) a multifunctional additive having at least one functionality suitable for reaction with said isocyanate or amine group and at least one functionality that remains pendant on the polymer backbone.

A method for preparing a waterborne reactive functional latex polymer comprising steps of:

• emulsion polymerizing (a) a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer containing at least one amide group, and (b) an additional copolymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated monomer;
• transforming said amide group into isocyanate and/or amine groups by reaction with an alkali hypohalide, optionally, in the presence of a base;
• and
• reacting said isocyanate or amine group with (c) a multifunctional additive having at least one functional group suitable for reaction with said isocyanate or amine group and at least one functional group that remains pendant.