Smudge resistant nanocomposite hardcoats and methods for making same

A method for preparing a smudge and abrasion resistant article comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting a plurality of nanoparticles with a latent coupling agent to form latent reactive nanoparticles;
• b) intimately mixing the latent reactive nanoparticles with a binder precursor;
• c) curing the binder precursor to form a nanocomposite having an exposed first surface comprising latent reactive nanoparticles;
• d) deprotecting a plurality of latent reactive nanoparticles to form reactive nanoparticles at the first surface of the nanocomposite;
• and
• e) contacting a reactive fluorochemical with the first surface of the nanocomposite such that fluorinated organic groups are covalently bonded to a plurality of the reactive nanoparticles present at the first surface of the nanocomposite.