| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing a plurality of spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid, wherein in a draw ratio DRfluid = DRsp x DRag of at least 50 is applied, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp greater than 1 and DRag at least 1. The invention further relates to a spinplate having spinholes of specific geometry. |