A series of ultraviolet-curable nanocomposite coatings were prepared with condensed nanosilica particles and with benzophenone/n-methyl diethanolamine as the initiator. The nanosilica that incorporated into the nanocomposites did not aggregate even when the nanosilica concentration was as high as 22.5%. Adding nanosilica increased the curing speed, thermal stability, and ultraviolet shielding properties of the nanocomposites without reducing the transparency of the ultra viol et-curing coatings. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.