Functionalized silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nano-fSiO 2 ) were uniformly deposited on the surface of carbon fibers (CFs) using a coating process which consisted of immersing the fibers directly in a suspension of nano-fSiO 2 particles and epoxy monomers in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). The 08 flexural properties, 908 flexural properties, and Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) mechanical properties of unidirectional epoxy composites made with nano-fSiO 2 1epoxy sized carbon fibers, with control fibers, and with epoxy-only sized fibers were measured and compared. An obvious increase of the fiber/matrix adherence strength was obtained with the nano-fSiO 2 1epoxy coating. The nano-fSiO 2 1epoxy sized CF/epoxy composites showed a relative increase of 15%, 50%, and 22% in comparison to control fibers, for the Interlaminar shear strength, the 90 8 flexural strength and the 908 flexural modulus, respectively, but little e difference was measured between the different systems for the 08 flexural properties. The observation of the fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy of composite fracture confirmed the improvement of the interfacially dependent mechanical properties.