Multidirectional fiber-reinforced tape/film articles and the method of making the same

A process for forming a layer comprising a plurality of polymeric tapes, the process comprising:

• a) providing a plurality of polymeric tapes, each polymeric tape comprising a flattened multi-filament yarn, each multi-filament yarn comprising a plurality of continuous polymeric filaments;
• b) arranging said plurality of polymeric tapes into a side-by-side planar array such that only their edges are in contact with each other;
• and
• c) applying heat and/or pressure to said polymeric tapes under conditions sufficient to consolidate said polymeric tapes into a substantially planar, unitary layer,
• wherein the process optionally further comprises applying a polymeric binder material onto the polymeric tapes after arranging the polymeric tapes into a side-by-side planar array but prior to applying heat and/or pressure to the polymeric tapes under conditions sufficient to consolidate the polymeric tapes into a substantially planar, unitary layer.