Cellulose fibers have been surface-modified by selected cold, microwave plasma treatments. Inverse gas chromatographic (IGC), XPS, and SEM analyses showed surface treatment to be incomplete, but, nevertheless, effective in controllably altering the acid/base interaction balance of fiber surfaces. Surface-modified fibers were used in composites with polystyrene (PS), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), and polypropylene (PP) as, respectively, basic, acidic, and neutral matrices. Favorable acid/base interactions led to enhanced mechanical properties and increased glass transition temperatures of composites. Acid/base interaction appears to be an important, though not the sole consideration, in the design of superior systems using cellulose fibers as reinforcing agents. As expected, in the case of PP composites, acid/base considerations proved to be irrelevant. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.