The present invention discloses microcellular fibers, in which microcells
are formed with a density of more than 10.sup.7 cells/cm.sup.3 with a
supercritical fluid introduced into fiber forming polymers and have a
rate of volume expansion of 1.2 to 50, ratio of microcell length to
microcell diameter of more than 2 and a monofilament diameter of more
than 5 .mu.m. The microcellular fibers provide high and uniform cell
densities and are good in the rate of volume expansion and the ratio of
cell length to cell diameter, thus they are very excellent in lightweight
feeling and touch. The microcellular fibers are made by a method for
making microcellular fibers, wherein a supercritical fluid is introduced
into an extruder upon melting and mixing fiber forming polymers in the
extruder, to thus prepare a single-phase solution of molten polymer and
gas, then the single-phase solution of molten polymer and gas is extruded
(spun) through spinneret of spinning pack by subjecting the single-phase
solution to a rapid pressure drop, to thus make microcellular extrusion
materials, the microcellular extrusion materials are rapidly cooled by a
cooling medium, and then they are wound at a winding speed of 10 to 6,000
m/min so that a spinning draft can be 2 to 300.