Friction and wear behaviors of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) modified PBO fabric composites were evaluated in a pin-on-disc friction and wear tester, and the relationship between the properties and the structure change resulting from PVA modification were intensively investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (Friction and wear behaviors of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) modified PBO fabric composites were evaluated in a pin-on-disc friction and wear tester, and the relationship between the properties and the structure change resulting from PVA modification were intensively investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results indicated that the PVA thin film formed on the fabric surface by chemical crosslinking reaction could improve the antiwear property of the PBO fabric composites efficiently. In argon-300 degrees C condition, the antiwear property of the PBO fabric composites was improved by 35%, which was due to the improvement of the bonding strength between the fabric and resin and the dispersion of the shear stress induced by the shear creep and plastic deformation of the PVA film in friction. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1313-1320, 2013