Hybrids of poly(L-lactide)/organoclay (PLACHs) have been prepared via a melt-compounding process using poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and three types of surface-treated montmorillonite modified with ammonium salts (M1, trimethyl octadecyl-; M2, dimethyl dioctadecyl-, and M3, bis(4-hydroxy butyl) methyl octadecyl-ammonium). The dispersed state of the clay particles in the PLLA matrix was examined by use of wide-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and polarizing optical microscopy. On melt-compounding PLLA and two organoclays (M1, M2) modified with the surfactants both carrying homogenous alkyl chains, we obtained intercalated hybrids with relatively uniform dispersion of nanometer-sized clay particles. On the other hand, the organoclay (M3) modified with a surfactant carrying alkyl chains end-capped with hydroxyl groups yielded the composite with flocculated particles. The flocculation of the particles originates from the hydrogen bonding among the hydroxyl groups of the component surfactant, those of the clay edge and those of both ends of PLLA chains. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.