High-Performance Fibres

These rope-making materials exhibit high strength coupled with low elongation—known as high-modulus fibres—and are designed pushing the limits.

Descriptive Properties

Logo	Trade Name	Material	Standard Raw Colour	Chemical Structure
	Stealth Fibre®	UHMwPE	White
	Technora®	Aramid Copolymer	Black or Beige
	Twaron®	Para-Aramid	Black or Beige
	Vectran™	LCP	Beige
	Zylon®	PBO	Copper

Physical Properties

* Creep is defined as permanent/non-recoverable elongation under a constant, sustained load and should not be confused with constructional or elastic elongation. It is a function of % MBL vs time and can be mitigated by increasing the rope diameter.

Environmental Properties

Commercial Fibres

Common, volume-driven materials.

Descriptive Properties

Trade Name	Material	Standard Raw Colour	Chemical Structure
Nylon	Polyamide	White
Polyester	Polyethylene Terephthalate	White
MFPP	Multifilament Polypropylene	White
HDPE	High-Density Polyethylene	White
Polysteel®	Polyolefin Copolymer	White
Polyrene®	Polyolefin/Polyester Blend	White
Cotton	Natural Fibre (± 99% Cellulose)	Cream
Manila	Natural Fibre (± 76% Cellulose)	Brown

Physical Properties

* Creep is defined as permanent/non-recoverable elongation under a constant, sustained load and should not be confused with constructional or elastic elongation. It is a function of % MBL vs time and can be mitigated by increasing the rope diameter.

Environmental Properties

Fibre Sorted by Property

Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is the ratio of a material's density relative to that of fresh water at a given temperature and is dimensionless. A material will float if its specific gravity is less than that of the surrounding water and sink if it is greater. The degree of buoyancy is related to how similar the specific gravities are—a material closer to water is more neutrally buoyant, whereas a material much heavier than water will be very negatively buoyant and will sink rapidly.

Advised Temperature Limits & Melting Points

These temperature limits are intended to serve as a guideline for both short- & long-term exposure. Exceeding the advised limits can result in material degradation and loss in performance properties, including tensile strength. For non-strength-dependent applications, like insulation, wadding or other heat management, these limits can be exceeded but user discretion is advised.

Fibre Elongation at Break

Elongation is how much a material stretches under load and is a measure of its ability to absorb energy. A fibre with higher elongation stretches more and absorbs more energy in shock & dynamic loads, while lower elongation stretches less and is more responsive. A rope's elongation is not only influenced by fibre elongation but also rope construction and level of twist. E.g. a laid, or twisted, 3-strand rope exhibits more constructional elongation than a 12-strand braid. In essence, the more a rope's fibres are in line with the applied load, the less constructional elongation.

Custom Specifications

All rope presented in this catalogue can be manufactured to custom specifications (reel length, diameter, colour, and materials used can all be varied according to requirements). Please contact us directly for any unique requirements you may have.

Break Load

Break load is an average result achieved under laboratory conditions, in straight-line pulls with constantly increasing tensile loads. These conditions are rarely duplicated in actual use. Do not use breaking load for design or rating purposes, use safe working load figures The breaking load is determined by taking the load that each line in a sample of five breaks and then dividing by five to determine the average breaking load. Break loads may vary slightly for individual reels, but safe working loads will not.

Safe Working Loads

Because of the wide range of rope use, exposure to the several factors affecting rope behaviour, and the degree of risk to life and property involved, it is impossible to make blanket recommendations as to working loads. However, to provide guidelines, working loads are tabulated for rope in good condition with appropriate splices, in non-critical applications and under normal service conditions. Please note that recommended the safe working load for all ropes presented in this catalogue is one fifth (1/5) of the breaking load.

Dynamic Loads

Normal working loads are not applicable when rope is subject to significant dynamic loading. Instantaneous changes in load, up or down, in excess of 10% of the line’s rated working load constitutes hazardous shock load and would void normal working loads. Whenever a load is picked up, stopped, or swung there is an increased force due to dynamic loading. The more rapidly or suddenly such actions occur, the greater the increase will be. Examples could be picking up a tow on a slack line or using a rope to stop a falling object. Therefore, in all such applications such as towing lines, lifelines, safety lines, climbing ropes, etc., working loads as given do not apply.

Users should be aware that dynamic effects are greater on a high modulus (low stretch) ropes, such as Stealth Fibre® UHMwPE/LCP/Aramid/PBO, than on a high stretch rope, such as Nylon, and greater on a shorter rope than on a longer one. The working loads listed contain a provision for very modest dynamic loads. This means, however, that when the working load has been used to select a rope, the load must be handled slowly and smoothly for the working loads to be valid.

General Care

Ropes can be damaged in many ways. The main causes are UV exposure, chemicals, oil, sharp objects, and abuse.

Don't store your rope in direct sunlight.

Avoid excessive exposure to oil, chemicals, and chemical fumes.

Using a rope bag will prolong the life of your rope.

Never step on your rope. This grinds particles of dirt into the rope's core causing abrasion.

Give your rope a bath on occasion.

Retire your rope, when it shows signs of wear.

Inspect each line before use.  It is impossible to state when to replace a line, but if you have any doubts about the integrity of the line, replace it.

Unreeling New Rope

Remove rope properly from reels to prevent kinking. The rope should be removed by pulling it off the top while the reel is free to rotate. To proceed in any other manner may cause kinks or strand distortion.  Never unreel rope from the side of the drum.

Handling

Never stand in line with rope under tension. If a rope fails it can recoil with lethal force. Synthetic rope has higher recoil tendencies than natural fibre rope. Reverse rope ends regularly. This permits even wearing and assures a longer, useful life.

Abrasion

Wherever possible abrasive conditions should be avoided. All rope will be severely damaged if subjected to rough surfaces or sharp edges. Chocks, bits, winches, drums and other surfaces must be kept in good condition and free of burrs and rust. Pulleys must be free to rotate and should be of proper size to avoid excessive wear. Clamps and similar devices will damage and weaken the rope and should be used with extreme caution. Do not drag rope over rough ground. Dirt and grit picked up by rope can work into the strands, cutting the inside fibres.

Chemicals

Most synthetic fibres will withstand small doses of common chemicals.  If you have any doubt please contact us for clarification.  It is generally advisable to avoid exposure to chemicals where possible.

Temperature

Temperature has an effect on tensile strength.  The tensile strength charts apply to ropes tested at normal room temperature. Ropes have lower tensile strengths at higher temperatures.  Also continued exposure at elevated temperatures can melt and part synthetic ropes or cause permanent damage.

Splicing & Terminations

Join rope by splicing. If done correctly, a splice will not weaken the rope, whereas knots can decrease rope strength by as much as 60%.  Other terminations can be used but their strength loss with a particular type of rope and construction should be determined and not assumed.

Storage & Care

All rope should be stored clean, dry, out of direct sunlight, and away from extreme heat. Some synthetic rope (particularly polypropylene, polyethylene, and aramid) may be severely weakened by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation unless specifically stabilized and/or pigmented to increase its UV resistance. UV degradation is indicated by discolouration and the presence of splinters and slivers on the surface of the rope.

Inspection

Avoid using rope that shows signs of aging and wear. If in doubt, dispose of or destroy the used rope. No type of visual inspection can be guaranteed to accurately and precisely determine actual residual strength. When the fibres shows wear in any given area the rope should be re-spliced, eliminating the damaged area

Check the line regularly for frayed strands and broken yarns. Pulled strands should be rethreaded into the rope if possible. A pulled strand can snag during a rope operation.

Both outer and inner rope fibres contribute the strength of the rope. When either is worn, the rope is compacted or hard which indicates reduced strength.

REGISTERED TRADEMARKS

Dyneema® is a registered trademark of DSM IP Assets B.V.  Technora® and Twaron® are registered trademarks of Teijin Limited. Vectran™ is the registered trademark of Kuraray Co. Ltd. Zylon® is a registered trademark of Toyobo Co., Ltd. The trademarks identify and denote the independent sources of material from which ropes are manufactured with which entities Southern Ropes has no commercial or legal association of any kind.

Stealth Fibre®, Super-12®, Polyrene® and Polysteel® are registered trademarks of Southern Ropes (Pty) Ltd.

Orders & Pricing

Please contact our sales office for further information.

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