Low-density polyethylene-g-poly(acrylic acid) membranes were prepared by the direct radiation grafting of aqueous acrylic acid solutions (containing Mohr's salt) onto low-density polyethylene films and were irradiated at two different irradiation doses (2 and 3 Mrad) at a dose rate of 0.02 Mrad/h. Two series of polyethylene-g-poly(acrylic acid) membranes with 100 and 150% grafting were obtained. The free carboxylic acid groups in the grafted films were converted into the corresponding acrylates by reactions with different metal salts. The swelling (water uptake) and dialysis permeability of glucose and urea through the grafted membranes in different metal-ion forms were investigated. The prepared membranes showed good permeability to both solutes, which increased as the hydrophilicity of the membrane increased. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.