Rigid structural and low back face signature ballistic UD/articles and method of making

A method of forming a fibrous composite comprising at least two adjoined fiber layers, each fiber layer comprising fibers having surfaces that are at least partially covered with a polymeric material, wherein said fibers are predominantly free of a fiber surface finish such that said polymeric material is predominantly in direct contact with the fiber surfaces;

• the method comprising:
• a) providing a plurality of polymeric fibers having surfaces that are predominantly free of a fiber surface finish;
• b) optionally treating the fiber surfaces to enhance adsorbability, bonding or adhesion of a subsequently applied polymeric material to the fiber surfaces;
• c) after step b), applying a polymeric material onto at least a portion of said fibers, thereby adsorbing, bonding or adhering the polymeric material on or to the fiber surfaces;
• d) after step c), producing a plurality of fiber plies from said fibers either before or after applying said polymeric material to said fibers;
• and
• e) after step d), consolidating said plurality of fiber plies to produce a fibrous composite, said fibrous composite having a dynamic storage modulus that is greater than the dynamic storage modulus of a comparable fibrous composite having fiber surfaces that are predominantly covered with a fiber surface finish wherein such a fiber surface finish is between the fiber surfaces and the polymeric material.