Abstract: A method for forming fibers/composite material having an anisotropic structure, comprising the steps of mixing an effective amount of fibers with a matrix material to form a deformable mixture containing less than about 96 weight percent of the fibers to about parts per billion of the fibers and wherein the fibers are randomly oriented in the deformable mixture. The deformable mixture can be extruded, stretched or otherwise deformed to form an extrudate. Pressure is applied about the extrudate to substantially compress the fibers in the extrudate to provide the fibers/composite material having an anisotropic structure.

Abstract: Applicators configured to dispense a hollow or shaped filament and methods of dispensing in which the hollow or shaped filament is impinged with gas jets. The applicator includes a dispenser body configured to discharge the hollow or shaped filament and a plurality of gas outlets arranged to impinge the filament in the space between the dispenser and the substrate.

Abstract: A nanotube/matrix composite mixture, and a method of producing it, which can be used to form a composite material such as a drawn fiber having an increased strength over a drawn fiber formed from the matrix material alone. Nanotubes are combined with a solvent material to form a nanotube/solvent mixture. The nanotube/solvent mixture is mixed, for example by sonication, such that the nanotubes are uniformly dispersed in the nanotube/solvent mixture. An amount of a matrix material (with or without a solvent) is then combined with the nanotube/solvent mixture to form a nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture. The matrix material is polyethylene. The nanotube/solvent mixture and the matrix material are mixed such that the nanotubes are maintained in uniformly dispersed state in the nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture, for example by continued sonication after the nanotubes and matrix material are combined.