Patent ID: 7344668

Claim:
A process for drawing a gel-spun multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of: a) forming a gel-spun polyethylene multi-filament feed yarn comprising a polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity in decalin at 135° C. of from 5 dl/g to 35 dl/g, fewer than two methyl groups per thousand carbon atoms, and less than 2 wt. % of other constituents; b) passing said feed yarn at a speed of V 1 meters/minute into a forced convection air oven having a yarn path length of L meters, wherein one or more zones are present along the yarn path having zone temperatures from 130° C. to 160° C. and wherein the air circulation in said oven is in a turbulent state; c) passing said feed yam continuously through said oven and out of said oven at an exit speed of V 2 meters/minute wherein the following equations are satisfied 0.25 ≦L/V 1 ≦20, min 1.5 ≦V 2 /V 1 ≦20 1≦( V 2 =V 1 )/ L ≦60, min −1 0.55≦2 L /( V 1 +V 2 )≦10, min and wherein the mass throughput of yarn passing through the oven is at least 0.25 grams/minute per yarn end.