Fiber lubricants yielding low residues upon oxidation

A process of lubricating synthetic fibers which comprises applying to the fiber in an amount of from 0.05 weight percent to 5 weight percent, based on the weight of lubricated fiber, of a compound of the general formula:

• R(Z).sub.n (Y).sub.m (Z).sub.m-1 . . . H
• wherein R is HO or an alkoxy group having from 1 to 8 carbons in the alkyl chain;
• Z is a linker selected from the group consisting of ##STR5## wherein each R' is independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or phenyl;
• Y is a polyoxyalkylene group made up from about 2 to x units wherein each unit is selected individually, in heteric or block mixtures thereof from oxyethylene, oxypropylene, oxybutylene, and oxytetramethylene;
• x is a number selected such that the approximate average molecular weight contribution of the polyoxyalkylene group is from about 100 to about 800;
• m is a number from 2 to 40;
• n is 1 or 0, with the proviso that when R is HO, n equals 0, with the further proviso that the Z groups can be coupled to the Y groups either in a heteric or block arrangement, and with the proviso that a unit of Z is not directly attached to the terminal H.