The crosslinking reaction mechanism of polyacrylate copolymer (monomer mass ratio of methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate/acrylic acid = 48.77:46.69:4.54) hydrosol with triethanolamine chelate of zirconium isopropyloxide was studied with IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The instrumental analyses on the copolymer mix- we proved that the crosslinking adduct had amino groups that were provided by the chelate. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.