1. Introduction
High performance ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
(UHMWPE) fiber was first developed in 1980 by Smith et al. [1].
The fiber displays very high modulus close to the theoretical value
of a polyethylene chain. The fiber also displays tensile strength
much greater than conventional polyethylene fiber. This fiber
quickly found applications in various field such as ballisticresistant,
nautical sea ropes, and replacing other fiber such as
Kevlar and carbon fibers [2]. However manufacturing processing
of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber by gel spinning
process [3] is quite difficult and the technology involved is not so
open. There are only three companies in the world that can
produce ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. In
Thailand, no company produces ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene fiber and it has to be imported from abroad to be
used in military and police units. Therefore, it is important that
the technology is developed in the country. So this research is
aimed to study the processing of UHMWPE into high strength
fiber.