Abstract: A UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) composite and a method for its manufacture. Fibers of polyethylene or polypropylene are cause to swell in a solvent or in a solution of the polymer, thereby producing molecular brush layers within the external layers of the fibers and reciprocal entanglement of the surrounding polymer matrix with the external surfaces. Preferably, the fibers are placed under tension, and the swelling of the fibers and the growing of the brush layers is conducted at a temperature above the melting point of the unloaded fibers but below the melting point of the loaded fibers. The composite then is cooled under pressure to crystallize the brush layers, and then is molded under heating and further compression.