Abstract: | The effect of drawing temperature on multi-stage drawn ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWE) fiber, produced by gel spinning, has been studied. Drawing at higher temperature generally gives higher crystal orientation, as expected. The activation energy of drawing increased with the draw ratio and raw 4sequence. It varied at a given draw ratio and draw stage between two temperature ranges, 85 to 115°C and 115 to 135°C. Thus, for the first draw stage, the activation energy is ~ 19—35 KJ/Moe in the range of 85 to 115°C, and ~ 60—99 KJ/mole in the range of 115 to 135°C. In the second stage, the activation energy is 40 KJ/mole in the range of 105 to 115°C and 70—99 KJ/mole in the range of 115 to 135°C. In the third stage, the activation energy is ~ 92—100 KJ/mole in the range of 115 to 135°C. |