Patent ID: 8070998

Claim:
A process for drawing a gel-spun multi-filament yarn comprising: a) forming a gel-spun polyethylene multi-filament feed yarn comprising a polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity in decalin at 135Â° C. of from about 5 dl/g to 35 dl/g, fewer than about two methyl groups per thousand carbon atoms, and less than about 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 about 130Â° C. to 160Â° C.; c) passing said feed yarn continuously through said oven and out of said oven at an exit speed of V 2 meters/minute wherein the following equations are satisfied: 0.25â‰¦ L/V 1 â‰¦20, min 3â‰¦ V 2 / V 1 â‰¦20 1.7â‰¦( V 2 âˆ’ V 1 )/ Lâ‰¦ 60, min âˆ’1 0.20â‰¦2 L/ ( V 1 + V 2 )â‰¦0.24 min.