A polyvinyl pyrrolidone terpolymer system is described that can be chemically cross-linked at moderate, 70100 degrees C, temperatures. The system has significant potential for development of durable long-lasting pyrrolidone coatings in a wide range of applications, particularly in water filtration membrane construction where leaching is an unresolved, serious problem. The synthesis of the terpolymer, poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate-co-glycidyl methacrylate), by free radical polymerization is described. The reactive features of this terpolymer are presented in the context of acidic anhydride curing. In a polar aprotic solvent, the terpolymer is reacted with poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic acid) and cured thermally. Key aspects of the terpolymer synthesis and the acid anhydride cross-linking reaction using DSC, rheology, FTIR, and a small molecule model system to study the cross-linking chemistry are presented. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013