Abstract: A woven mat fabric with fused layers containing a plurality of woven layers, where each woven layer contains a plurality of warp elements interwoven with a plurality of weft elements. The warp and weft elements contain polymeric strips which have a core layer disposed in layered relation with at least one surface layer. The core layer contains a first strain oriented polymer composition and having a first softening point and the surface layer contains a second polymer composition having a softening point lower than the first softening point. The weft and warp elements within each layer are fused to one another, but the weft and warp elements of one layer are not consolidated to the weft and warp elements of the adjacent layers.

Abstract: Provided herein are various flexible sheet-like substrates that are lightweight, rupture or burst resistant, and suitable for use in constructing a variety of structures used in fluid-containment, especially gas containment, and other applications, and the processes by which such composites can be fabricated. In the most general case, the composites of this disclosure are comprised of a woven textile fabric to which has been laminated a flexible film. Two principal embodiments are disclosed: a first embodiment without a reinforcing layer, and a second embodiment with a structurally robust, bias-oriented reinforcing layer, preferably interposed between the fabric and the film.