We prepared a novel copolymeric latex of vinyl acetate and n-butyl acrylate (V-B) using a semibatch emulsion polymerization process. The glass-transition temperature (T-g), steady viscosity, flow activation energy (E-f), dynamic moduli, and amphiphilic properties of the V-B latex in the presence of colophony were systematically investigated. The experimental results demonstrate that excellent adhesive behaviors were achieved for the V-B latex blended with 20 wt % colophony, whereas good adhesive performance was related to the moderate T-g, viscosity, E-f, storage modulus, and low contact angle on the adherent. The debonding mechanisms for V-B and its colophony-modified latexes were analyzed. A possible mechanism for the V-B latex blended with colophony emulsion was determined. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.