Helical polyurethane@attapulgite (HPU@ATT) composites were prepared after the surface modi. cation of the rod-like attapulgite (ATT). HPU@ATT composites based on S-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diol (S-BINOL) with different optical purity (O.P.) were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicate that the helical polyurethane has been successfully grafted onto the surfaces of the modified ATT without destroying the original crystalline structure of ATT. The rod-like nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Infrared emissivity values of HPU@ATT composites have been investigated, and the results indicate that the optical purity of monomer plays a very important role in the infrared emissivity for HPU@ATT owing to the effect of helical conformation and interchain hydrogen bonds. Along with the increased optical purity of S-BINOL, the infrared emissivity of HPU@ATT is reduced evidently. Infrared emissivity value of HPU@ATT based on S-BINOL with 100% optical purity is the lowest one (0.431). (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.