Nanosized metal particle filled polymer composites are finding numerous tribological applications in recent years. In the present work, the matrix properties were investigated by introducing nickel nanoparticles (60-100 nm, filler content of 0?5-10 wt-%) into epoxy resin. The influence of these particles on friction and dry sliding wear behaviour was measured using a pin on disc wear set-up. The experimental results indicated that the coefficient of friction and the specific wear rate of epoxy resin can be reduced with a rather low weight fraction of Ni particles. The lowest specific wear rate of 0?64610 24 mm 3 N 21 m 21 (compared to neat resin's value of 2?2610 24 mm 3 N 21 m 21 ) was observed for composites with the filler content of 0?5 wt-%. The reinforcement of Ni particles leads to improved mechanical properties of the epoxy composites. The results have been supplemented with scanning electron micrographs to help understand the possible wear mechanisms.