Method of manufacturing articles utilizing a composite material having a high density of small particles in a matrix material

A method of manufacturing an article using a composite material that has a high density of small particles such as microspheres disposed in a matrix material, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of said composite material;
• providing at least one layer of flanking material;
• pulltruding said at least one layer of flanking material through a die;
• injecting said composite material onto a surface of said at least one layer of flanking material;
• heating said injected composite material and said at least one flanking material as it passes through said die to cure said composite material and form a cured article;
• wherein a wedge is used to inject said composite material onto said surface of said at least one layer of flanking material as it is being pulled through said die, said first layer of flanking material being guided into said die at least in part by contact with at least a portion of said wedge;
• and wherein at least one comb is disposed on at least a portion of said wedge, an alignment of any fibers in said at least one layer of flanking material being generally increased by contact with said at least one comb.