Patent ID: 8652570

Claim:
A process for forming a relatively thin unidirectionally oriented fiber structure comprising high tenacity fibers, the process comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a plurality of yarns, each yarn comprising a plurality of high tenacity fibers, the yarns being arranged unidirectionally with respect to each other; (b) coating the yarns with a liquid having a viscosity of from about 5 to about 600 centipoise; (c) applying tension to said yarns; (d) passing the yarns through a fiber spreading device, whereby the yarns are reduced in thickness and increased in width; and (e) drying the yarns; whereby said yarns are reduced in thickness and increased in width after passing through said fiber spreading device following said coating step (b) and preceding said drying step (e), thereby providing a relatively thin unidirectionally oriented fiber structure having a thickness of from about 0.35 to about 3 mils.