AbstractThe physicomechanical properties and processes of thermal crosslinking of latex acrylic polymer films containing functional groups of different chemical nature were studied. Improvement of properties characteristic of latex copolymers containing methylolamide groups is explained by orientated location of hydrophilic groups on the surface of latex particles during emulsion copolymerisation, that, in its turn, leads to a more ordered arrangement of macrochains. An optimum content of methylolamide groups as regards crosslinking processes was established and explained by steric location of these groups on the surfaces of latex particles. A similar optimum is not observed for crosslinking by watersoluble resin of latex copolymers containing groups of hydrophobic glycidylmethacrylate.