The drawing and ultimate tenacity properties of the Polyamide 6 (PA6)/Attapulgite (ATP) composite fiber specimens prepared at varying modified ATP (mATP) contents and drawing condition were systematically investigated. As evidenced by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and morphological analysis, demarcated translucent resins were found firmly attached on the surfaces of ATP nanofibers. The specific surface areas of the mATP specimens reached a maximum value at 381 m2/g as the weight ratios of silane coupling agents to ATP nanofibers reached an optimum value at 1.0. The percentage crystallinity and melt shear viscosity values measured at varying shear rates of PA6x(mATP)y specimens increased consistently as their mATP contents increased. In contrast, melting temperatures of PA6x(mATP)y specimens reduced slightly as their mATP contents increased. At a fixed drawing temperature and rate, the achievable draw ratio (Dra) values of PA6x(mATP)y as-spun fiber specimens approach a maximum value, as their mATP contents are close to the 0.2 wt % optimum value. The maximum Dra values obtained for PA699.8(mATP)0.2 as-spun fiber specimens reached another maximum, when their drawing temperatures and rates approached the optimum values at 120 degrees C and 50 mm/min, respectively. At a fixed draw ratio, the tenacity values of PA6x(mATP)y drawn fiber specimens drawn at the optimum drawing temperature and rate reached a maximum value, as their mATP contents approached the 0.2 wt % optimum value. Possible reasons accounting for the interesting morphological, specific surface area, drawing, orientation, and ultimate tenacity properties found for the PA6x(mATP)y fiber specimens are proposed. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012