The polylactide/attapulgite nanocomposites (PLA-Att composites) were prepared by melt mixing.The elongation at break and the tensile strength of PLA-Att composites increased first with increasing Att content and then decreased when Att content exceeded 10 wt%.The SEM results showed that the Att nanorods were well dispersed in PLA matrix.The DSC curves during the cooling and the second heating run showed that Att can enhance the crystallization rate of PLA.Furthermore

the rheological behaviors were investigated.When the content of Att was larger than 8 wt%

the storage modulus curve of PLA nanocomposites demonstrated a plateau region at the low frequency range

indicating the formation of a network structure in the composite

where the Att nanorods acted as the physical entanglement points to increase the relaxation time of the PLA-Att composites.FTIR spectrum of the extracted Att fillers from the nanocomposites showed that Att had strong interaction with PLA.PLA chains could be adsorbed at the surface of Att nanorods

reducing the thickness of the matrix layer.We suggest that the addition of Att nanorods changes the strained condition of the samples from the 3-dimensional stress to the 2-dimensional plane strain state and the maximum shear stress could reach the yield strength of PLA matrix so as to induce brittle-ductile transition of the sample.