The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of heat treatment of fibres on the advancing and receding contact angles and wicking of panels by the Wilhelmy plate method; to verify the possible relationships between wetting properties and water absorption of the panels; and to determine the surface composition of heat-treated fibres by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Fibres were treated at 150 and 180 degrees C for 15, 30 and 60 min. Our results showed that the treatment increased contact angles and decreased water absorption. Wicking was reduced by about 70% for the 150 degrees C group and 80% for the 180 degrees C group. XPS analysis demonstrated a slight decrease of the O/C ratio and changes of the C1/C2 ratio following treatment.