A　novel　methodology　for　the　preparation　of　polyethylene/palygorskite,　＂in　situ　coordinated　polymerization,＂　was　proposed.　A　Ziegler-Natta　catalyst　was　first　supported　on　the　surface　of　nanoscale　crystal　fibers　of　palygorskite　and　subsequently　used　to　initiate　ethylene　polymerization　on　the　surface　of　the　fibers.　The　palygorskite　was　encapsulated　by　polyethylene　and　became　reinforcement　fibers　of　the　composite.　The　palygorskite　fibers　were　heat-treated　to　remove　water,　to　ensure　that　the　supported　titanium　species　possessed　proper　activity　for　the　polymerization　of　ethylene.　The　effect　of　the　conditions　of　heat-treating,　titanium-supporting,　and　other　factors　such　as　temperature　and　type　and　amount　of　the　cocatalyst　on　the　initiation　activity　of　the　palygorskite　fibers　were　investigated.　(C)　2001　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Inc.