Process for producing high tenacity polyethylene fibers

摘要

Polyethylene yarns having tenacities of at least 12 grams per denier are produced at commercially feasible spinning speeds by a process in which a high density polyethylene having a Mn of at least 20,000 and a Mw of less than 125,000 is extruded through a high temperature spinneret (220 DEG -335 DEG C.) to form yarns which are hot-drawn at a temperature between about 115 DEG and 132 DEG C. The yarns produced by this process are particularly useful as industrial cordage.