A report on the synthesis and characterization of water-based coatings (e.g. for furniture) consisting of acetoacetoxy-functional polymers.The preparation of acid-functional resins, emulsion polymers (with acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate as reactive monomer), and polymer films is described in detail, together with the crosslinking reaction through reactive diamines.The crosslinking reaction was observed by 13C NMR studies, and the physicochem. film properties were investigated including viscosity, hardness, Young's modulus, tensile yield stress, wet heat as well as block and chem. resistance.