A　novel　konjac　glucomannan　(KGM)-acrylic　acid-diatomite　composite　(KGAD)　was　synthesized　by　the　solution　polymerization　of　partially　neutralized　acrylic　acid　(AA)　on　to　KGM　and　diatomite　(DT),　using　potassium　persulfate　as　a　free　radical　initiator,　in　the　presence　of　Trimethylolpropane　Trimethacrylate　(TPTA)　as　a　crosslinking　agent.　The　structure　and　morphology　of　KGAD　were　characterized　by　using　FT-infrared,　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy.　Besides,　the　thermal　stability　as　well　as　the　salt　absorption　of　the　composites　was　investigated　by　the　thermogravimetric　analysis　and　the　swelling　rate　test,　respectively.　The　results　showed　that　the　interactions　between　KGM-AA　(KGA0)　and　DT　could　be　generated　through　hydrogen　bond　formation.　Besides,　the　crystal　of　composites　became　rules　and　grew　well　with　the　addition　of　DT.　It　was　also　found　that　the　appropriate　amount　of　DT　could　be　dispersed　uniformly　with　a　single　crystal　state　in　the　matrix　of　KGA0　while　excessive　DT　caused　aggregation,　inducing　an　irregular　distribution　in　the　matrix.　In　addition,　the　thermal　stability　of　KGAD　was　improved　based　on　the　introduction　of　DT　into　the　polymer　network.　POLYM.　COMPOS.,　37:3384–3390,　2016.　©　2015　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers.　©　2015　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers