The grafting of methacrylic acid (MAA) and other vinyl monomers onto cotton cellulose in fabric form was investigated in an aqueous medium with a potassium peroxydiphosphate-metal ion-cellulose thiocarbonate redox initiation system. The graft copolymerization reaction was influenced by peroxydiphosphate (PP) concentration, the pH of the reaction medium, monomer concentration, the duration and temperature of polymerization, the nature of vinyl monomers, and the nature and concentration of metallic ions (activators). On the basis of a detailed investigation of these factors, the optimal conditions for the grafting of MAA onto cotton fabric with the said redox system were as follows: [Fe2+] = 0.1 mmol/L, [PP] = 2 mmol/L, [MAA] = 4%, pH-2, grafting time = 2 h, grafting temperature = 70degreesC, and material/liquor ratio = 1 : 50. Under these optimal conditions, the graft yields of different monomers were in the following sequence: MAA much greater than acrylonitrile > acrylic acid > methyl acrylate > methyl methacrylate. The unmodified cellulosic fabric (the control) had no ability to be grafted with MAA with the PP-Fe2+ redox system. The percentage of grafting onto the thiocarbonated cellulosic fabric was more greatly enhanced in the presence of iron salts than in their absence. This held true when the lowest concentrations of these salts were used separately. A suitable mechanism for the grafting processes is suggested, in accordance with the experimental results. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.