Process for preparing poly(trimethylene terephthalate) carpet yarn

A process for preparing bulk continuous fiber yarn from poly(trimethylene terephthalate) comprising:

• (a) melt-spinning poly(trimethylene terephthalate) at a temperature within the range of about 250 to about 280.degree. C. to produce a plurality of spun filaments;
• (b) cooling the spun filaments;
• (c) converging the spun filaments into a yarn;
• (d) drawing the yarn at a first draw ratio within the range of about 1.01 to about 2 in a first drawing stage defined by at least one feed roller and at least one first draw roller, each of said at least one feed roller operated at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. and each of said at least one draw roller heated to a temperature greater than the temperature of said at least one feed roller and within the range of about 50 to about 150.degree. C.;
• (e) subsequently drawing the yarn at a second draw ratio of at least about 2.2 times that of the first draw ratio in a second drawing stage defined by said at least one first draw roller and at least one second draw roller, each of said at least one second draw roller heated to a temperature greater than said at least one first draw roller and within the range of about 100 to about 200.degree. C.;
• and
• (f) winding the drawn yarn.