Graft copolymerization of water-soluble monomers containing quaternary ammonium onto PVA was studied in an aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate-nitric acid as the redox initiator. To optimize the reaction conditions for obtaining a maximum percent of grafting, the concentrations of methacryloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) monomer, ceric ammonium nitrate, and temperature were varied, and the effects on the grafting copolymerization were discussed. Under optimum conditions, a series of water-soluble monomers containing quaternary ammonium, such as methacryloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DMC), DMAEMAC(2)H(5)Br, DMAENIA-C4H9Br, DMAEMAC(16)H(33)Br, and DMAENIA-C7H7Cl, were successfully grafted onto PVA. The resulting grafted PVA were characterized with IR, NMR, and viscosity measurements. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.