Abstract: The invention is directed to aqueous coating compositions which are freeze-thaw stable in the absence of conventional volatile coalescing solvents and volatile freeze-thaw (F/T) additives and which utilize a latex binder which contains an EVA thermoplastic interpolymer which is prepared by emulsion polymerization of ethylene, vinyl acetate and a surface active initiator having an azo group as radical generating functionality and an anionic substituent, and to latex binders which contain the EVA interpolymer.

Abstract: Latex paint compositions containing water, pigment and a latex wherein the latex is prepared by emulsion polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of 0.1 to 0.2 pphm of at least one hydrophobically modified starch having the structure ##STR1## In the above structure, St is a starch base material, R.sup.1 is a dimethylene or trimethylene group, R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aralkyl and aralkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium. The hydrophobically modified starch is the reaction product of starch and an anhydride moiety and provides the latex paint with improved rheological properties and allows for easier spreading and less dripping of paint.