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The mechanics of isothermal melt spinning are studied for a viscoelastic liquid with a power law viscosity and a constant shear modulus. Steady state velocities and stresses are in agreement with experiment. The onset of the draw resonance instability, the magnitude of diameter fluctuations in the unstable region, and a second stable region at high draw ratio are predicted accurately.

Spin line tension, diameter attenuation, and the onset of the draw resonance instability are determined for a viscoelastic polymer melt, taking into account the changes in physical properties resulting from cooling of the filament. The theory predicts the experimentally observed stabilization of very short and very long filaments.