Mechanical properties of epoxy resin toughened with two different submicron particles of TiO 2 at different weight fractions (1, 3, and 5%, respectively) were investigated. The first TiO 2 particles are surface treated with Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 , and the second are surface treated with Al 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 . The composites were characterized by tensile, flexural, pull off and abrasion tests, followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron spectroscopy of the fracture surfaces. A small amount of TiO 2 ($1%) submicron particles improves the flexural, abrasion and pull-off strengths, while amounts up to 5% significantly enhance tensile properties only. TiO 2 particles surface treated with Al 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 produce an epoxy composite with higher strength and weight loss but lower pull off strength and more brittle than that prepared with Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 particles. The TiO 2 particles surface treated with Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 have a higher adherence to the epoxy composite matrix than the particles treated with Al 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 as shown by scanning electron spectroscopy.