Nanocomposite coatings of silica sol and polymer lattices were prepared. These systems consisted of inorganic silicon oxide phase and organic polymeric phase. The coating system was prepared by direct blending of prepare silica sol and polymer latex, and by conducting the emulsion polymerization in the presence of silica. The effect of grafting the polymer to the silica surface using trimethoxy silyl propyl methacrylate (MSMA) was evaluated. The films were evaluated for improvements in withstanding mechanical wear and solvent resistance. Silica was found to increase the coating hardness, while crosslinking the sol and polymer was found to improve solvent resistance. A two fold increase in hardness was common with silica addition in the range of 40 to 50 wt.% in the cured film. This effect was independent of the composition of the latex. The incorporation of the silane monomer was found to increase the solvent resistance of the films. Coating prepared from systems containing MSMA had superior performance in 8 water spot test. MEK rub tests were also performed and a significant increase in resistance to this solvent was found.