Abstract: Acrylate cellulose was synthesized by the reaction between avicel and acryloyl chloride. It was characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), etc. Effects of various experimental factors on the substitution degree (DS) of acrylate cellulose were investigated. The results showed that DS 2.25 can be obtained at the reaction condition of the temperature at 50℃, the time for 4 hours, and the molar ratio of 1:4 between hydroxyl content of avicel and acryloyl chloride. 13C NMR showed that acrylate cellulose could be obtained under the condition of reaction. SEM indicated that acryloyl chloride reacted with avicel and changed the configuration of avicel. XRD results displayed that acrylate cellulose was a completely amorphous structure. Thermal analysis revealed that acrylate cellulose prepared was pure substance rather than a mixture.