Abstract: Process for removing residual spin solvent from a gel spun, UHMwPE filament having an effective diameter of above 16 ?m, comprising the steps of: removing residual spin solvent from the filament to a level of below 100 ppm at elevated temperature, while keeping the filament taut. The invention also relates to gel spun UHMwPE filament having an effective diameter of above 16 ?m and a residual spin solvent residue of less than 100 ppm. Preferably the filament has a creep rate, measured at 50° C., under a load, so that the initial stress is 600 MPa, of less than 510?6 sec?1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a polyethylene multifilament yarn comprising the steps of a) spinning multiple filaments from a solution comprising between 0.5 and 30 mass % of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in a solvent; b) cooling the filament obtained to form gel filaments; c) removing at least partly the solvent from the gel filaments; d) drawing the filaments in at least one drawing step before, during or after removing the solvent, wherein the solution of step a) further comprises between 0.1 and 7 mass % of a sorbitol derivative and at step d) the filaments are drawn with a draw ratio of more than 15 to a strength of at least 1 GPa. The invention further relates to a high performance polyethylene multifilament yarn having a strength of at least 1 GPa, wherein the yarn comprises between 0.1 and 5 mass % of a sorbitol derivative.