In this article, a graft, oxidation starch sizing agent was synthesized and its structure and surface morphology were analyzed by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the synthesized graft oxidation starch has good gelatinizing ability, good film properties, good desizing ability, and lower hygroscopic properties. The sized yarns (T/C65/35, 13.5tex), sized with graft oxidation starch and emulsive copolymer size EM, exhibit good tensile strength and elongation at break, good abrasion resistance, and lower counts of fluff when poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is substituted by less than or equal to 80% with graft oxidation starch. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals.