Polystyrene-grafted attapulgite (ATP-g-PS) was prepared using surface-initiated redox initiation via graft from approach. ATP was modified with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to anchor amine on the surface (ATP-NH2), and then ATP-NH2 was further treated with 4-(diethylamino) salicylaldehyde (DEAS) to give aromatic tertiary amine groups functional ATP (ATP-ATA). Subsequently, the surface-initiated redox polymerization of styrene in the presence of ATP-ATA and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was performed to afford ATP-g-PS. The chemical grafting of PS on the surface of ATP was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal structure of PS-grafted ATP was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The morphology of ATP-g-PS was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:889-895, 2015. (c) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers