AbstractGraft polymerization of acrylic acid from monomer solutions in water or in bulk onto low‐density polyethylene film substrate was carried out by the method of continuous process under UV radiation. Effects of the nature of photoinitiator on acrylic acid grafting was first studied. One PI2 and two PI1 photoinitiators were used. Benzophenone was then retained for the following study. The influence of photoinitiator and monomer concentration was investigated by determining polymerization kinetics and grafted polymer amount. A study of surface wetting and morphological structure was then carried out on a bulk system and as a function of the photoinitiator concentration. Finally, such surface modification was studied with respect to its effect on the adhesion of an acrylic stick on its surface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2803–2811, 2004