Toyobo Co., Ltd.

Willard Alexander

Michael E Mills

Chieh-Chun Chau

Timothy L Faley

A continuous process for heating a polybenzazole or polybenzothiazole filament, which includes the step of heating the filament to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. but no greater than 290.degree. C. while applying a tension thereto of at least 3.5 grams per denier, which is carried out at a line speed of at least 100 m/minute; and there is no prior or subsequent heating of the fiber to any temperature greater than 300.degree. C. It has been discovered that placing tension on the filament while it is dried increases its tensile modulus without a significant decrease in its tensile strength.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Willard Alexander