Grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on microparticulate silica was achieved by initiating the polymerization of MMA by 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) that was covalently bound to the silica surface. The initiator seems to be destabilized upon binding it to the silica surface. The kinetics of the graft polymerization are described and are largely affected by the Trommsdorff effect, which makes it possible to graft a high amount of PMMA on silica.