Poly(ether ketone ketone)s were prepared and used to improve the brittleness of the bismaleimide resin. The bismaleimide resin was composed of 4,4′-bismaleimidediphenyl methane (BMI) and o,o′-diallyl bisphenol A (DBA). Poly(ether ketone ketone)s include poly(phthaloyl diphenyl ether) (PPDE), poly(phthaloyl diphenyl ether-co-isophthaloyl diphenyl ether) (PPIDE), and poly(phthaloyl diphenyl ether-co-terephthaloyl diphenyl ether) (PPTDE). PPIDE (50 mol % isophthaloyl unit) was more effective as a modifier for the bismaleimide resin than were PPDE and PPTDE (50 mol % terephthaloyl unit). Morphologies of the modified resins changed from particulate to cocontinuous and to phase-inverted structures, depending on the modifier structure and content. The most effective modification for the cured resins could be attained because of the cocontinuous phase or phase-inverted structure of the modified resins. For example, when using 10 wt % of PPIDE (50 mol % IP unit, MW 349,000), the modified resin had a phase-inverted morphology and the fracture toughness (KIC) for the modified resins increased 75% with retention in flexural properties and the glass transition temperature, compared to those of the unmodified cured bismaleimide resin. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:769–780, 1998