The NaCl/water solutions of commercial poly( vinyl alcohol) (a-PVA) with the degrees of polymerization and saponification of 1730 and 99.39%, respectively were gel-spun into methanol (-30degreesC) and then the removed NaCl dry-filaments were drawn at 200degreesC. The draw ratio showed the maximum at NaCl concentration C-N = 3 wt% ( polymer concentration C-P = 150 kg/m(3)). The Young's modulus and strength at break were 95 and 6 GPa (lambda = 19). In the case of DMSO system (C-P = 170 kg/m(3)), the Young's modulus was 52 GPa (lambda = 25) and the strength at break was 3.3 GPa. Under a polarized microscope, the fine lateral structure was observed for the DMSO system, but not for the NaCl system, that is, the smooth structure was recognized. The smooth structure, like a Netlon packing net for oranges, might be considered to result in heightening of mechanical properties. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.