Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

A type of polyester yarn for an industrial sewing thread and preparing method thereof are provided. The preparing method is composed of a viscosity enhancing by a solid state polycondensation and a melt spinning for a modified polyester, and the modified polyester is a product of esterification and polycondensation of evenly mixed terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, tert-butyl branched dicarboxylic acid, trimethylsilyl branched diol and a doped Sb.sub.2O.sub.3 powder, wherein the tert-butyl branched dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of 5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzoic acid, 2-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid, 3-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid. Moreover, the modified polyester is dispersed with a doped ZrO.sub.2 powder. An obtained fiber has an intrinsic viscosity drop of 23-28% when stored at 25° C. and R.H. 65% for 60 months.

A type of polyester yarn for an industrial sewing thread and preparing method thereof are provided. The preparing method is composed of a viscosity enhancing by a solid state polycondensation and a melt spinning for a modified polyester, and the modified polyester is a product of esterification and polycondensation of evenly mixed terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, tert-butyl branched dicarboxylic acid, trimethylsilyl branched diol and a doped Sb.sub.2O.sub.3 powder, wherein the tert-butyl branched dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of 5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzoic acid, 2-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid, 3-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,6-hexanedioic acid. Moreover, the modified polyester is dispersed with a doped ZrO.sub.2 powder. An obtained fiber has an intrinsic viscosity drop of 23-28% when stored at 25° C. and R.H. 65% for 60 months.

Artificial turf filaments formed from polyethylene are provided that can have desirable properties. In one aspect, an artificial turf filament comprises a composition comprising a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises at least one ethylene-based polymer and wherein the first composition comprises a MWCDI value greater than 0.9, and a melt index ratio (I10/I2) that meets the following equation: I10/I2≥7.0−1.2×log (I2).

Artificial turf filaments formed from polyethylene are provided that can have desirable properties. In one aspect, an artificial turf filament comprises a composition comprising a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises at least one ethylene-based polymer and wherein the first composition comprises a MWCDI value greater than 0.9, and a melt index ratio (I10/I2) that meets the following equation: I10/I2≥7.0−1.2×log (I2).

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of turf reinforcement mats that include spun yarns and/or multifilament yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of turf reinforcement mats that include spun yarns and/or multifilament yarns in either or both of the warp and weft directions.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize polymer fibers non-coiled or coiled yarns and can be either neat or comprising a guest. Devices comprising these artificial muscles are also described. In some embodiments, thermally-powered polymer fiber torsional actuator has a twisted, chain-oriented polymer fiber that has a first degree of twist at a first temperature and a second degree of twist at a second temperature in which the bias angles of the first degree and second degree of twist are substantially different.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize polymer fibers non-coiled or coiled yarns and can be either neat or comprising a guest. Devices comprising these artificial muscles are also described. In some embodiments, thermally-powered polymer fiber torsional actuator has a twisted, chain-oriented polymer fiber that has a first degree of twist at a first temperature and a second degree of twist at a second temperature in which the bias angles of the first degree and second degree of twist are substantially different.