A chemical grafting method was applied to modify TiO2 nanoparticles through covalently introducing glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxy silicane (KH560) followed by poly-oxymethylene onto the particles to overcome the disadvantages generated by the agglomeration of nanoparticles. TiO2 nanoparticles unmodified and modified were introduced into hybrid polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/cotton fabric composites. Friction and wear test demonstrated that TiO2 nanoparticles unmodified and modified can significantly increase the wear resistance of hybrid PTFE/cotton fabric composites but cannot reduce the friction coefficient. Fabric composites filled with grafted TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a lower wear rate due to the disintegration of agglomeration and the improvement of interfacial adhesion between filler/matrix. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 49:115-122, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers