Patent ID: 7452418

Claim:
A method of improving the properties of a cementitious mixture, wherein said method comprises the steps of: a) providing a cementitious mixture; b) providing unitized filamentary film constructs, each of said unitized filamentary film constructs having an overall length and circumference and being comprised of: i) two or more dispersible reinforcing filamentary film components comprising a polymeric composition and exhibiting a finite staple length, said filamentary film components optionally comprising fibrillated film; ii) one or more circumferential retaining elements; iii) wherein said reinforcing filamentary film components are combined in an essentially parallel orientation and said one or more circumferential retaining elements circumscribe about an overall circumference defined by said combined and essentially parallel reinforcing filamentary film components, wherein each said unitized filamentary film constructs has a total surface area based on the overall length and circumference of said construct, and said one or more circumferential retaining elements circumscribe no more than 80% of the total surface area of each construct to expose the reinforcing filamentary film components for more effective disruption when subjected to mechanical disruption; c) adding into said cementitious mixture a quantity of unitized filamentary film constructs so as to form a cementitious mixture and unitized filamentary film construct blend; and d) mechanically agitating said cementitious mixture/unitized filamentary film construct blend so as to disrupt said circumferential retaining elements and disperse said reinforcing filamentary film components into said cementitious mixture.