The surface of poly-p-phenylene benzobisthiazole (PBO) fibers was treated through oxygen plasma induced vapor phase grafting (PIVPG) method under various oxygen plasma pre-treatment time conditions. The surface chemical composition, surface morphologies and surface free energy of pristine and treated PBO fibers were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Cahn DCAA system. The mechanics property of these fibers was evaluated by tensile strength and interfacial shear strength (IFSS). It was found that the surface characteristics of treated PBO fibers occurred significant change compare with the pristine PBO fibers. After treatment, the polar functional groups were introduced on the fiber surface. Carbon concentration decreased; oxygen concentration and elemental ratio of oxygen to carbon increased. Acrylic acid can react with the activated PBO fibers surface, which led to the fiber surface roughness increased. The surface free energy increased from 41.4 mN/m to 62.8 mN/m when PBO fibers were plasma pre-treated for 10 min, while the IFSS of PBO fibers with epoxy resin increased from 36.6 MPa to 55.8 MPa. Therefore, PIVPG can be used to enhance the interfacial bond between PBO fibers and epoxy resin. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.