Dimethyl meta-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate (TMI(R)) is a novel bifunctional monomer. It has a double bond and an isocyanate group. The seeded emulsion terpolymerization of TMI with the acrylic monomers, methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate, has been studied. A copolymer of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate was used as the seed latex. In order to minimize the risk of hydrolysis of TMI, polymerizations were carried out at 40 degrees C using redox initiators. No additional surfactant was added during the second-stage polymerization in order to avoid the nucleation of secondary particles. TMI was found to retard the polymerization kinetics. The effect of variables, such as the total number of particles, initiator concentration, and the monomer feed rate on polymerization kinetics, was investigated. The composition of the second-stage polymer could be controlled by running the polymerization under monomer-starved conditions.