  This review summarizes the main advances published over the last 15 years
outlining the different methods of grafting, including reactive extruder
systems, surface modification, grafting and graft copolymerization of synthetic
and natural polymers with maleic anhydride and its isostructural analogues such
as maleimides and maleates, and anhydrides, esters and imides of citraconic and
itaconic acids, derivatives of fumaric acid, etc. Special attention is spared
to the grafting of conventional and non-conventional synthetic and natural
polymers, including biodegradable polymers, mechanism of grafting and graft
copolymerization, in situ grafting reactions in melt by reactive extrusion
systems, in solutions and solid state (photo- and plasma-induced graftings),
and H-bonding effect in the reactive blend processing. The structural
phenomena, unique properties and application areas of these copolymers and
their various modifications and composites as high performance engineering
materials have been also described.
