Abstract: A composite material includes a highly aligned discontinuous fibers. The material comprises a plurality of substantially aligned warp fibers which have been woven about a plurality of weft filaments, each warp fiber having a series of crossover points with adjacent warp fibers. A plurality of matrix polymer filaments are associated with the warp fibers, the polymer matrix filaments having been treated such that each warp fiber adheres to the matrix polymer filament at at least the crossover points such that the warp fibers are attached to each other at the crossover points. A series of preselected patterned cuts are made in at least some of the warp fibers. The invention is also for a method of making a composite material with discontinuous fibers.

Abstract: A composite material includes a highly aligned discontinuous fibers. The material comprises a plurality of substantially aligned warp fibers which have been woven about a plurality of weft filaments, each warp fiber having a series of crossover points with adjacent warp fibers. A plurality of matrix polymer filaments are associated with the warp fibers, the polymer matrix filaments having been treated such that each warp fiber adheres to the matrix polymer filament at least the crossover points such that the warp fibers are attached to each other at the crossover points. A series of patterned cuts having preselected characteristics are made in at least some of the warp fibers. The invention is also for a method of making a composite material with discontinuous fibers.