Graded filamentary composite article and method of making

A graded filamentary elongated composite article having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area over its entire length comprising a plurality of densely packed unidirectional elongated high strength reinforcing filamentary material with varying lengths selected from the group consisting of polybenzimadazoles fibers, steel fibers, boron fibers, silicon carbide, fibers, carbon fibers, and carbon coated silicon dioxide fibers, a second plurality of different densely packed unidirectional elongated high strength reinforcing filamentary material of varying lengths selected from the group consisting of polybenzimadazoles fibers, steel fibers, boron fibers, silicon carbide, fibers, carbon fibers, and carbon coated silicon dioxide fibers, both pluralities of elongated high strength reinforcing filamentary materials arranged in the same direction and of similar cross-sectional area with ends of the varying lengths of opposite high strength reinforcing filamentary pluralities in contact and substantially free of overlap with respect to each other, and a thermosetting binder holding the high strength reinforcing filamentary materials in parallel relationship.