Abstract: The invention comprises a bio-compatible composition suitable for constructing surgical articles for the repair or replacement of a part of the body of a human or non-human animal, e.g., ligaments, tendons, bones, comprising a composite of a bio-absorbable polymer and at least one substrate of a plurality of carbon fibers.The invention also includes surgical articles fabricated from the composites for the repair of damaged tissue, e.g., tendons, ligaments and bones.The invention includes a method for the formation of the aforesaid composite comprising providing a substrate of the carbon fibers and providing the substrate with a continuous coating of a bio-absorbable polymer.The invention also includes the surgical repair of a damaged body part such as a ligament, tendon or bone comprising surgically affixing to the damaged part the surgical article, the bio-absorbable polymer being absorbed by the body upon formation of the new tissue.