Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a dispersion of silica nano-particles. The dispersions are prepared from silica nano-particles having reactive silane groups of 1-500 nm particle size, and least 0.001 parts by weight of oligomer having at least two groups reactive with the silica nano-particles, or oligomer in combination with a film forming polymer, a low molecular weight coupling agent, or a combination of a film forming polymer and a low molecular weight coupling agent.