Radiation curable aqueous compositions with reversible drying

The present invention relates to an aqueous resin composition (I) comprising at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated polyurethane polymer (A), optionally, at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound (B) different from (A), and optionally, at least one neutralizing agent (C); wherein the polyurethane polymer (A) has a weight average molecular weight of less than 15.000 Daltons and is obtained from the reaction of: at least one polyisocyanate (i); at least one hydrophilic compound (ii) containing at least one reactive group capable to react with isocyanate groups and at least one group which is capable to render the polyurethane polymer dispersible or soluble in aqueous medium either directly or after reaction with a neutralizing agent (C) to provide a salt; at least one compound (iii) containing essentially one reactive group capable to react with isocyanate groups and at least one copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group; at least one compound (iv) containing at least two reactive groups capable to react with isocyanate groups; and, optionally, at least one chain extender (v) containing at least two reactive groups capable to react with isocyanate groups, which chain extender is different from compounds (iv); and wherein the non-volatile components of the resin composition (I) after drying are re-dispersible or re-soluble in water at 25° C. The present invention further relates to radiation curable compositions comprising a resin composition of the invention for use in coating applications or graphic art applications.