Untreated, air-plasma-bombarded, and beta-aminoethyltrimethoxylsilane-silanized glass fabric (GF) was used to prepare GF/phenolic composites by dip coating in a phenolic adhesive resin and successive curing. The tribo-performances of these GF/phenolic composites sliding against AISI-1045 steel were evaluated with a pin-on-disc wear tester. The chemical composition of the Untreated and surface-treated GF was analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The interfacial regions between the phenolic resin and GF and the worn surfaces of the composites were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the GF/phenolic composite with beta-aminoethyltrimethoxylsilane-silanized GF had the highest load-carrying capacity and best tribo-performance, and it was followed by the composite with plasma-treated GF. The improved tribo-performance of the GF/phenolic composite made of surface-treated GF was attributed to the strengthened interfacial bonding between the treated GF and the phenolic adhesive resin. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 594-601, 2009