The origin of the curing behavior, mechanical and thermal properties of surface functionalized attapulgite/bismaleimide/diallylbisphenol composites

•Surface functionalized attapulgite (N-ATT) has multi-effects with bismaleimide resin.•N-ATT varies chemical and aggregation structures of the crosslinked resin.•Composites with small contents of N-ATT have greatly improved integrated properties.•Integrated properties include toughness, thermal property and curing behavior.•The origin behind the super advantage of N-ATT in modifying BD resin is revealed.