AbstractThe cost for a mole of radicals from different sources is under the assumptions used, as follows: $0.85 using dibenzoylperoxide, $5.60 with60Co, and $5.60 using a small 0.2‐MeV accelerator. Fluorine‐containing monomers and monomer mixtures belong to the most interesting class of systems for the radiation‐initiated synthesis of polymers with good thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. Recently, the vinylfluoride‐vinylidenefluoride system was investigated in detail. The polymers were afterwards grafted with hydrophilic monomers.Films from, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylfluoride, or polytetrafluoroethylene were grafted from the gas phase with butadiene, vinylchloride, and styrene. Usually, homopolymerization in the gas phase can be kept low. A highly interesting system both from a theoretical perspective and for practical reasons is polyethylene‐hexafluoroacetone. The grafting follows a chain mechanism, and the “branches” consist of only one monomer unit each. Cationic grafting was observed during the irradiation of α‐methylstyrene, vinylbutylether, or isobutene in the presence of polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or PVC. A tremendous amount of work has been done in the field of radiation grafting of fibers and fabrics. In recent years, the following fiber/monomer systems, among others, have been investigated: cellulose with styrene, vinylfluoride. ethylacrylate, or acrylamide; wool with styrene; polypropylene with vinylchloride and vinylidenechloride; poly‐(ethylene terephthalate) with styrene, acrylic and methacrylic acid, acrylic acid plus acrylonitrile, andN‐vinylpyrrolidone.Special applications including radiation synthesis and modification of membranes and hydrogels, biocompatible materials, ion‐exchange membranes and resins, and, finally, the radiation‐grafting of enzymes have fou