Yarn drying process

In a process for drying high strength, high modulus filaments of aromatic polyamides having an inherent viscosity of at least 4.0 whose chain extending bonds are coaxial or parallel and oppositely directed, by the steps of extruding an anisotropic solution of the polyamide in 98.0 to 100.2% sulfuric acid having a polyamide concentration of at least 30 g/100 ml sulfuric acid through a layer of non-coagulating fluid into a coagulating bath and then washing and drying the filaments, the improvement for increasing the tenacity of yarns comprised of the filaments wherein the washing of the filaments is effected under a tension of at least one-third of the tension on the filaments during drying and the drying of the filaments is effected on heated rolls at a temperature of less than 300.degree. C. under a tension of at least 2 gpd and thereafter discontinuing the drying under tension while the filaments have a moisture content of at least 8%.