Polar modification of poly(ethylene-co-octene) (POE) elastomer was carried out with a relatively new approach. Poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA) was taken as the modifier and POE with a calculated amount of EAA were coextruded with dicumyl peroxide (DCP; used as a crosslinker). The majority of the compositions showed the existence of a crosslinked EAA phase inside POE, although increasing DCP concentrations and extrusion temperatures were possibly capable of crosslinking either of the phases, as observed with a model composition. All of the samples were soft and light in nature. The best composition was the one that contained 13.3 wt % EAA; that composition showed excellent surface polarity and superior mechanical properties. Detailed solvent swelling experiments also yielded the best results for that particular composition. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 3401-3409, 2011