Static Ropes - From Fiber to Rope

Raw Materials: Polyamide, Polypropylene, and Polyester. Every rope is composed of ultra-fine filaments. Qingdao Huakai Ocean Technology Co., Ltd. (Hailiya Group) uses different types of synthetic raw materials to manufacture ropes. Below is an introduction to the main fibers we use and their characteristics.

Commonly Used Materials

Polyamide is the most widely used fiber for producing high-quality ropes from synthetic materials. The most familiar types of polyamide are DuPont's Nylon (PA 6.6) and Perlon (PA 6). Polyamide is abrasion-resistant, very strong, and highly elastic. It can be heated and permanently shaped—a characteristic utilized in the heat-setting process. Due to the need to absorb energy, dynamic ropes are made entirely of polyamide. Polyamide fibers are also widely used in the production of static ropes, albeit selecting material types with less stretchiness. A drawback of polyamide is that it absorbs relatively large amounts of water, which can cause it to shrink if wet.

Lightweight Due to Polypropylene

Polypropylene is lightweight and inexpensive. Because of its low abrasion resistance, it is mostly used to make rope cores, which are protected by a polyamide sheath. Polypropylene is extremely lightweight, has a low relative density, and can float. This is why we use it to make our canyoning ropes.

Use of Polyester

Static ropes made from polyester fibers are primarily used for work where exposure to acids or corrosive chemicals is possible. Unlike polyamide, it offers higher resistance to acids and absorbs almost no water. However, polyester fibers only have limited energy absorption properties, meaning their suitability for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is limited.

Achieving High Tear Strength

Synthetic fiber ropes made from Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) possess extremely high tear strength and very low elongation. Weight for weight, its tensile strength is 15 times that of steel. Its main features are high abrasion resistance, high UV stability, and light weight. However, UHMWPE ropes do not offer any dynamic energy absorption, making them unsuitable for use as Personal Protective Equipment. UHMWPE ropes are mainly used for dragging heavy loads. They are often used to replace heavy steel cables. In practice, UHMWPE has a low melting point. This means the fibers of a UHMWPE rope can be damaged at temperatures exceeding 135 degrees Celsius.

Perfect Performance in Cut Resistance

Aramid is an extremely strong, heat-resistant fiber with high cut resistance. Like UHMWPE ropes, aramid ropes do not provide dynamic energy absorption, thus their suitability for PPE is limited. Due to its extreme sensitivity to bending and low UV resistance, aramid fibers are often given a polyamide sheath for protection. We use aramid ropes for systems requiring work positioning where minimal stretch and high cut resistance are needed.