UV radiation induced graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate onto natural lignocellulose (jute) fiber was carried out by two methods: simultaneous irradiation and grafting and preirradiation grafting. 1-Hydroxycyclohexyl-phenylketone was used as the photoinitiator in both methods. In the former method, the variation of the graft weight was measured for different values of radiation exposure time and the concentrations of both the monomer and photoinitiator. The latter method produced up to 76% graft weight compared to 45% obtained with the former method. The preirradiation method offers better control of the homopolymerization reaction compared to that afforded by the other method. The optimum value of the reaction parameters on the graft weight was evaluated. The mechanical properties of grafted samples were found to be drastically different from those of the as-received ones and the effect was proportional to the percentage of graft weight. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that the percentage of graft add-on of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with jute had a significant effect on the thermal properties. IR studies indicated the degree of grafting could be estimated by correlating the band intensities with the graft weight. The jute samples grafted with poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) at a level of 12% graft weight exhibited a maximum 20% increase in hydrophilicity. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.