Polyamide 6 (PA6)/maleated ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymer rubber/nano calcium carbonate ternary composites were prepared. The effect of the compounding route on the morphology, toughness, and fracture behavior of the ternary composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Charpy impact testing, and essential work of fracture (EWF) testing. The construction of sandbag microstructure particles in PA6 matrix was crucial to the toughness of the ternary composites. The Charpy impact strength and the specific essential work of fracture (w(e)) of the ternary composites with a sandbag microstructure were 137.9 and 71.4% higher, respectively, than those of the ordinary ternary composites with a separated dispersion microstructure. The observation of the fracture surface after EWF testing indicated that the improvement of w(e) was attributed to the sandbag microstructure particles; this structure was more effective for resisting the growth of cracks; meanwhile, the influence of the amount of fibrillation on the nonspecific essential work of fracture, including the nonspecific essential work of fracture before yielding and that in the necking-tearing stage, was insignificant. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 2971-2978, 2011