UV was used to initiate grafting of styrene, methyl methacrylate, and ethyl acrylate to cellulose in the conservation of aged paper. To overcome homopolymerization, a styrene comonomer procedure was developed. The inclusion of organic acids in the grafting solution enhance grafting, thus reducing the total irradiation time that the cellulose is in contact with the solvent monomer solution. Analogous grafting to cellulose derivatives (i.e., the acetate) occurred in the presence of ionizing radiation and was accelerated by the presence of mineral acid. A mechanism for acid effects in both UV and gamma-ray grafting procedures was proposed. See AATA 18-1013.