Air-jet texturing of technical polyester yarns was performed in order to improve its adhesion to rubber. The air-jet texturing parameters were selected with great care to minimize the mechanical loss. H-adhesion tests were used to characterize the adhesion of the yarns to rubber. A significant increase in the adhesion of dimensionally stable polyethylene terephthalate yarn, textured with an overfeed level of 15% (DSPET15), was recorded, while a decrease in the adhesion of high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate (HTPET) yarn was observed for all overfeed levels. The effects of air-jet texturing on the adhesion of technical polyester yarns were discussed in terms of changes in the yarn geometry and changes on the single fiber surfaces. Changes in the yarn geometry were investigated by optical microscopy studies, while changes on the fiber surface were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) studies. It was observed that air-jet texturing alters both the yarn geometry and the single fiber surfaces, leading to a change in the adhesion to rubber. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011