Process for fabricating polymeric articles

A polymeric article comprising a ply of at least three layers, the at least three layers comprising, in sequence, a first layer composed of strands of a first polymeric material, a second layer composed of a second polymeric material, and a third layer composed of strands of a third polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material of each of the at least three layers has a melting temperature and the degree of polymeric orientation of the second polymeric material is less than that of the strands of the first and third polymeric materials;

• wherein the first and third layers are fabrics which are woven or knit from tapes, fibre yarns, or filament yarns;
• wherein a portion of each of the at least three layers has been melted;
• wherein each of the at least three layers comprises the same chemical class of polymer, the chemical class of polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, blends thereof, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein the second layer comprises a lower melting temperature than that of the first and third layers and is melted to a greater degree than the first and third layers;
• wherein the melting temperature of the second layer is at least 5° C. lower than the melting temperature of the first and third layers;
• and
• wherein the second layer is not oriented.