The grafting of 2- (dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) onto two model hydrocarbons, squalane and n-eicosane, and to linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) has been investigated. The results of the study indicate that a high reaction temperature, 160-degrees-C, and a low concentration of monomer, less than 0.3 M, are optimum conditions for the grafting reaction. Reaction products, which consisted of grafted hydrocarbons and poly(DMAEMA), were separated by solvent extraction and vacuum distillation; samples were then analyzed by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. H-1-NMR spectroscopy indicates that grafted squalane contained approximately 6 DMAEMA units per squalane residue. H-1- and C-13-NMR and molecular weight studies strongly suggest that the grafts onto the model hydrocarbons consist of single DMAEMA units. Results of the melt grafting of DMAEMA onto LLDPE show that the grafting efficiency and degree of grafting are substantially lower than were expected from the model system.