Rope Construction Selection Guide

There are many different constructions of fiber rope. The chart below will help you gain a better understanding of the types and strengths. Contact Industrial Rope  for all your rope needs.

 ROPE CONSTRUCTION SELECTION GUIDE

CHARACTERISTICS	SOLID BRAID	HOLLOW BRAID	DOUBLE BRAID	DIAMOND BRAID	TWISTED
Number of Strands or Carriers	9, 12 or 18	8, 12 or 16	16, 24 or 32	8 or 16	3
Spliceable	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Strength to Weight	5	2	1	4	3
Flexibility	3	1	2	4	5
Flattens Under Load	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Rotates Under Load	No	No	No	No	Yes
Mechanical Elongation	1	4	5	3	2
Cost Per Size	2	4	1	3	5
Working Load (as a % of TensileL)	15-20%	15-20%	15-20%	15-20%	8-14%
Abrasion Resistance	1	5	2	3	4
*WARNING: This guide is designed for general reference only. The construction comparisons assume using the same rope fiber and size. Expert advice should be sought when choosing a rope where protection of life or property is involved.

 

ROPE FIBER SELECTION GUIDE: Fiber Properties- Typical Values

	Manila	Sisal	Cotton	Nylon	Polyester	Poly- propylene	Poly- ethylene	Kevlar(1)	Spectra (2)
STRENGTH: Breaking Tenacity- Dry (grams/ denier) Wet Strength vs. Dry Strength Shock-load Absorption Ability	5.0-6.0 Up to 120% Poor	4.0-5.0 Up to 120% Poor	2.0-3.0 Up to 120 % Very Poor	7.0-9.5 85-90% Excellent	7.0-9.5 100% Good	6.5 100% Very Good	6.0 100% Fair	18-26.5 95% Poor	30.0 100% Fair
WEIGHT: Specific Gravity Floats	1.38 No	1.38 No	1.54 No	1.14 No	1.38 No	0.91 No	0.95 No	1.44 No	0.97 No
ELONGATION: Percent at Break Creep (extension under sustained load)	10-12% Very Low	10-12% Very Low	5-12% Very Low	18-25% Moderate	12-15% Low	15-25% High	15-25% High	1.5-3.6% Very Low	3.5% Moderate
EFFECTS OF MOISTURE: Water Absorp. of Indiv. Fibers Dielectric Properties	Up to 100% Very Poor	Up to 100% Very Poor	Up to 100% Very Poor	2.8% Poor	<1% Good	None Excellent	None Excellent	3.5-7.0% Poor	None Excellent
DEGRADATION: Resistance to UV in Sunlight Resistance to Rot and Mildew Storage Requirements	Good Poor Dry Only	Good Poor Dry Only	Good Poor Dry Only	Good Excellent Wet or Dry	Excellent Excellent Wet or Dry	Poor (black is best) Excellent Wet or Dry	Fair (black is best) Excellent Wet or Dry	Fair Excellent Wet or Dry	Fair Excellent Wet or Dry
ROPE ABRASION RESISTANCE: Surface Internal	Good Fair	Fair Fair	Poor Fair	Very Good Excellent	Excellent Excellent	Good Good	Good Good	Fair Fair	V. Good Excellent
THERMAL PROPERTIES: Melts at	Does not melt Chars at 350°	Does not melt Chars at 350°	Does not melt Chars at 300°	420°-480°	490°-500°	330°	275°	800°- Begins to Decompose	297°
RESISTANCE: Resistance to Acids Resistance to Alkalis Resistance to Oils and Gas	Poor Poor Poor	Poor Poor Fair	Poor Fair Poor	Fair Very Good Very Good	Good Fair Very Good	Excellent Excellent Very Good	Excellent Excellent Very Good	Fair Fair Very Good	Excellent Excellent Very Good