The increased use of nanoparticles as performance-enhancing fillers in resins for industrial applications has stimulated research for the modification of the nanoparticles surfaces.The modification of the surface of inorganic nanoparticles is a key strategy to ensure compatibility of the particles with the polymer matrix and to avoid aggregation of nanoparticles.In this work,inorganic nanoparticles(in particular boron nitride BN and silica SiO2 nanoparticles)were embedded into an epoxy/anhydride polymer matrix,and the effect of nanoparticles on thermo-mechanical as well as thermal properties and the curing of the thermoset were determined.The modification of the nanoparticles was achieved by reaction of surface hydroxyl groups with functional silanes.The characterization of the surface modification was performed by FT-IR spectroscopy,contact angle measurement,pyrolysis mass-spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis,respectively.Moreover,electron microscopy was applied to see the distribution of the modified nanofillers within the polymer matrix.The curing behavior of the thermoset and the properties of the nanocomposites compared to the neat resin were studied with respect to surface modification and particle concentration.The different properties of the nano-composites compared to those of neat resin can be correlated to the presence of nanoparticles and interactions of the polymer with the dispersed particles.Differences in mechanical and thermal properties(e.g.thermal conductivity)become more pronounced with the addition of nanoparticles to the polymer matrix; this is due to altered curing behavior of the nanoparticle-filled polymer matrix compared to the neat resin.This research was performed within the K-project PolyComp of the COMET-program framework of the Federal Ministry for Transport,Innovation and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Economy,Family and Youth.PolyComp is funded by the Austrian Government and the State Government of Styria.