Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared in three steps: grafting of polystyrene onto PVDF powder using pre-irradiation graft polymerization technique, processing the grafted PVDF powder into membranes of around 50-μm thickness, and sulfonating them with cholorosulfonic acid to form poly(vinylidene fluoride)-g-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) membranes. Kinetics of the graft polymerization was studied. The existing of polystyrene side-chains in the grafted PVDF powders, and PSSA groups in PEMs, were proved by FT-IR. Properties of the PEMs, i.e. the ion exchange capacity, water uptake, proton conductivity, thermal property and oxidative stability, were characterized. Dependence of properties on the degree of grafting was investigated, too.