A self-prepared novel bifunctional vinyl monomer diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA-2) was graft copolymerized onto silk fibers initiated by potassium persulfate (KPS). The moisture regain and fiber fineness of grafted silk fibers increased linearly with graft yield. The enhancement of hygroscopicity can improve the comfort of silk fabrics. The grafting conditions caused a partial degradation of the tensile strength of silk fibers, as well as the whiteness. Elongation at break increased and initial modulus decreased, which indicated that the rigidity of silk fibers declined. Stress relaxation behavior shows that grafted silk fibers have better viscoelasticity than control silk fibers. Wrinkle recovery angle tests showed that grafted silk fabrics had better wrinkle resistance property. Laundering durability test showed that with increasing graft yield, the damage to the silk fibers during laundering decreased obviously. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.