A composite material of particles disposed in a matrix material is provided in which the particles have an asymmetric geometric shape with a longest dimension and a shortest dimension different from the longest dimension. Adjacent volume portions of the composite material are arranged in a mosaic pattern to abut along an interface or surface forming a common boundary between the adjacent volume portions. The particles within the adjacent volume portions are arranged with differing orientations with respect to the interface. The orientations of the particles in the adjacent volume portions are selected so that a crack propagating on a crack propagation path through one or the other of the adjacent volume portions stops at or deflects to propagate along the interface. Methods of making composite materials are also provided.

Disclosed are laminates from multiple stacked plies of a uni-directional tape in which the tape formed from a plurality of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene gel spun, multi-filament yarns. The resultant laminate contains not more than five percent resin by weight. Related methods of making a laminate of this type are also disclosed.

Disclosed are laminates from multiple stacked plies of a uni-directional tape in which the tape formed from a plurality of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene gel spun, multi-filament yarns. The resultant laminate contains not more than five percent resin by weight. Related methods of making a laminate of this type are also disclosed.