The carbon fabric composites filled with several nanoparticles were prepared by dip-coating and hot press molding technique. The friction and wear behavior of the resulting composites were studied systematically using a block-on-ring arrangement. Experimental results showed that the optimal content of nanoparticles as fillers contributed to improve the tribological properties of the carbon fabric composites. Moreover, the friction and wear properties of the fabric composites were closely dependent with the sliding conditions. The differences in the transfer film formed on the counterpart surface during the friction process also accounted for the friction and wear behavior of carbon fabric composites. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012