The radical graft polymerization of vinyl monomers onto carbon whisker, i.e. vapor grown carbon fiber, initiated by azo groups introduced onto the surface has been investigated. The introduction of azo groups onto the surface is achieved by (1) the reaction of 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) with isocyanate groups on the surface, which are introduced by the treatment of surface carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate and (2) the reaction of 2,2'-azobis(2-cyano-n-propanol) with acyl chloride groups on the surface, which are introduced by the treatment of surface phenolic hydroxyl groups with terephthaloyl dichloride. The carbon whiskers having azo groups prepared from the above two methods are abbreviated as CW-Azo 1 and 2, respectively. The azo group content of CW-Azo 1 and 2 is determined to be 0.04 and 0.07 mmol/g, respectively. It is found that the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene is initiated by the surface azo groups to give the corresponding polymer-grafted carbon whisker. The polymer-grafted carbon whisker gives a stable colloidal dispersion in good solvents for grafted polymer.