A comparative study of the ozonization of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was carried out. A grafting study of acrylic acid (AA), N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethylmethacrylate (MADAME) and vinyl phosphonic acid (VPA) on LDPE and HDPE was performed in mass and solution. The ozonized polyethylene and the grafting polymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elementary analysis. Ion exchange membranes were prepared from grafted copolymers and characterized by the exchange capacity and electrical resistance. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.