Process for preparing polyolefin gel articles as well as for preparing herefrom articles having a high tensile strength and modulus

A process is described for the preparation of highly stretchable high-molecular weight polyolefin gel articles and polyolefin gel articles prepared therefrom having combined high tensile strength and high modulus, wherein an initial shaped article of the polyolefin is exposed to or contacted with a swelling agent to form an intermediate swollen article, which is then converted to the gel state and then subsequently subjected to stretching at up to relatively high draw ratios.