Polymer nanoparticles were prepared by a methyl methacrylate/butyl methacrylate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylate or methyl acrylate microemulsion copolymerization process. A microemulsion copolymerization method was used. With this process high polymer: surfactant weight ratios (greater than or equal to15:1), relatively concentrated (similar to30 wt%) lattices, and small (similar to60 nm) particle diameters were obtained. Properties of the latices were characterized in detail by TEM, DSC, dynamic light scattering, spectrophotometry, and tensile strength testing. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.