Thus, the present invention relates to an aqueous
polymer latex of a
copolymer obtained by aqueous
emulsion polymerization of an ethylenically
unsaturated monomer M, iv. 5 to 90% by weight, in particular 10 to 70% by weight, in particular 10 to 50% by weight, based on the total amount of
monomer M, of
monomer M1 which is 1-heptyl
acrylate, v. 0 to 70% by weight, based on the total amount of
monomer M, of C2-C6-
alkyl esters of
acrylic acid excluding tert-
butyl acrylate, C8-C 20 -
alkyl esters of
acrylic acid and C5-C 20 -
alkyl esters of
methacrylic acid, and at least one monomer M2 selected from mixtures thereof, vi. 5 to 70% by weight, based on the total amount of monomer M, of tert-
butyl acrylate, C1-C4-alkyl esters of
methacrylic acid, C5-C 20 -cycloalkyl esters of
acrylic acid, C5-C 20 -cycloalkyl esters of
methacrylic acid, C5-C 20 -cycloalkylmethyl esters of acrylic acid, C5-C 20 -cycloalkylmethyl esters of methacrylic acid (the cycloalkyl in the above monomers is monocyclic, bicyclic or
tricyclic, one or two non-adjacent CH2 moieties of the cycloalkyl may be replaced by
oxygen atoms, the cycloalkyl may be unsubstituted or may have 1, 2, 3 or 4 methyl groups), and at least one monomer M3 selected from monovinyl aromatic monomers,
methylene-gamma-butyrolactone, and mixtures thereof, comprising, where the total amount of monomers M1 and M2 ranges from 10 to 90% by weight based on the total amount of ethylenically
unsaturated monomer M, and the total amount of monomers M1, M2 and M3 is at least 90% by weight based on the total amount of ethylenically
unsaturated monomer M, relates to an aqueous
polymer latex. The present invention also relates to a process for producing the aqueous
polymer latex of the present invention. The present invention also relates to the use of these polymer latexes as binders in aqueous
coating compositions and aqueous
adhesive compositions, particularly as binders in aqueous
coating compositions.