Abstract: A multistage stretching process for producing low shrinkage film bands of a thermoplastic polymer, especially polypropylene, wherein the stretching temperature is increased from one stage to the next under prescribed conditions for each stage and the stretched bands are then heat stabilized with shrinkage in a relaxed condition at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 30.degree. C. below the crystalline melting point of the polymer. The resulting film bands are especially useful in carpet backings.

Abstract: Process for cooling a freshly extruded, incompletely solidified foil of a thermoplastic polymer by extruding said foil into a liquid cooling bath and directing against said foil below the bath surface along a line extending the entire width of said foil at least one narrow, unbroken stream of cooling liquid. The stream(s) respectively are directed angularly against a side of said foil at right angles thereto or in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said foil into said bath, i.e., at an angle between 0.degree. and 60.degree. relative to a plane which is normal to said foil. The apparatus embodies an extrusion nozzle for extruding the foil downwardly into a body of cooling liquid in a tank directly below said nozzle. One or more tubes are normally immersed in said body of liquid and extend longitudinally parallel to and in juxtaposition to the foil entering said body of cooling liquid and also parallel to the upper surface of the cooling liquid.