Polylactic acid (PLA)/halloysite nanotube (HNT) composite mats were successfully fabricated via electrospinning. Composite mats reinforced by both unmodified and modified HNTs with a dispersant BYK-9076 were prepared at the HNT contents of 0, 1, 5 and 10 wt%/v. The influence of HNT content and modification was investigated comprehensively, based on several characterisation techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, mechanical testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Typical modified Halpin-Tsai model and modified Halpin-Tsai laminate hybrid model in conventional composite theory were used, which were found difficult to predict the entire experimental data of elastic moduli for PLA/HNT composite mats, possibly arising from the nanosized effect of HNTs and some electrospun PLA nanofibres within composite mats. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.