Patent ID: 8889049

Claim:
A process for the preparation of filaments of UHMW PE comprising the steps of: a) selecting an UHMW PE having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) from about 5 dl/g to about 45 dl/g when measured in decalin at 135° C., wherein a 10 wt. % solution of the UHMW PE in mineral oil at 250° C. has a Cogswell extensional viscosity (λ) in accordance with the following formula: λ≧5,917( IV ) 0.8 ; b) dissolving the UHMW PE in a solvent at elevated temperature to form a solution having a concentration of from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of UHMW PE; c) discharging the solution through a spinneret to form solution filaments; d) cooling the solution filaments to form gel filaments; e) removing solvent from the gel filaments to form solid filaments containing less than about 5 wt. % of solvent; and f) stretching at least one of the solution filaments, the gel filaments and the solid filaments to a combined stretch ratio of at least 10:1, wherein the solid filaments are stretched to a ratio of at least 2:1.