Abstract: A supercritical graft copolymerization process is described which includes the steps of: adding a polymer into a high pressure reactor; adding a free radically polymerizable monomer into the reactor; adding a free radical polymerization initiator; adding a sufficient amount of a supercritical solvent to dissolve at least a portion of the polymer and the monomer when supercritical conditions are achieved inside the reactor; and heating and pressurizing the reactor to achieve supercritical conditions therein for a time sufficient to effect a graft copolymerization on the polymer by the polymerizing monomer which forms at least one side chain on the polymer. In general, the reaction pressure will range from 70 atm. to 200 atm. and the reaction temperature will range from 50.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. In the examples provided above, the supercritical solvent was carbon dioxide.