Aryl/acrylate paint resin

A copolymer of an acrylate selected from the group consisting of 2-ethyl-hexyl-, octyl-, nonyl-, decyl-, dodecyl, -tetradecyl and hexyl-decyl-, and a vinyl aromatic monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene and vinyl toluene is produced by polymerizing in an aqueous alkaline emulsion containing a peroxy catalyst, having a pH of from about 9.5 to about 10, and containing also a salt of fully hydrogenated abietic acid selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium, at a temperature of from about 45 DEG C. to about 60 DEG C. for from about 6 to about 12 hours, the acrylate monomer being present in an amount of less than 50 parts by weight per 100 of total monomer. The above copolymer may be used in solvent base paints by grinding the copolymer (33 parts) together with titanium dioxide (260 parts) aromatic solvent (66 parts) and mineral spirits (66 parts) to a homogeneous pigment paste and further mixing the paste with a composition comprising the above copolymix (190 parts), aromatic solvent (200 parts), mineral spirits (200 parts) to produce a smooth homogeneous enamel.