2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was graft-copolymerized onto polypropylene using ultraviolet radiation in the presence of benzoin ethyl ether as photoinitiator. The parameters of grafting were optimized for getting maximum graft add-on. The thermal properties of the grafted samples were investigated using differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results have been discussed. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, inc.