Graft polymerization utilizing ionizing radiation

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GRAFT POLYMERS IN WHICH AN ORGANIC POLYMER IN THE FORM OF A CRYSTALINE MATERIAL HAVING CRYSTAL DOMAINS IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH ENERGY IONIZING RADIATION IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN WITH AN EFFECTIVE RADIATION DOSE TO CAUSE FORMATION OF ACTIVE CENTERS AND THEREAFTER THE IRRADIATED POLYMER IS CONTACTED WITH A FIRST MONOMER POLYMERIZABLE BY FREE RADICALS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES RECOVERING THE GRAFT COPOLYMER FORMED BY SAID CONTACTING STILL CONTAINING ACTIVE CENTERS, AND THEREAFTER, WITHOUT FURTHER RADIATION TREATMENT, CONTACTING SAID GRAFT COPOLYMER WITH AT LEAST ONE DIFFERENT SECOND MONOMER POLYMERIZABLE BY FREE RADICALS TO THEREBY FORM A GRAFT COPOLYMER HAVING A TRUNK CORRESPONDING TO SAID POLYMER AND GRAFT BRANCHES CORRESPONDING TO POLYMERS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MONOMERS, SAID CONTACTING WITH ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MONOMERS BEING EFFECTED AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE MELTING POINT OF SAID CRYSTAL DOMAINS, AND THE CONTACTING WITH THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MONOMERS BEING EFFECTED AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE MELTING POINT OF SAID CRYSTAL DOMAINS.