Page 13 - Mario Bigon "The Morrow Guide to Knots"

extent in halyards and sheets for racing boats which need ever
lighter materials which do not deform. A rope made of this
material is four times stronger than steel of the same weight.
but the use of aramid rope is still limited because of its very
high cost.

Commercial names of the main synthetic fibers
Polypropylene (olefin) Meraklon
Polyamide (nylon) Perlon. Ulian. Enkalon
Polyester Dacron, Terylene, Targal. Terital, Trevira.
Oialan, Wislel
Aramid Kevlsr, Arenka

Comparison between fibers
used in ropemaking

• c
• c •
>.
"
" >. Q. "0 ;; "0
~
·E
0
Q. "' ;; a E
E >- >- " >- " >-
"0 "0 "0 "0 " .;;:
" :I: "- "- "- "-
Specific gravity 1.48 0.95 0.91 1.14 1.38 1.44
Melting point 135'C 175'C 255'C 260'C
Breaking strain
(grim') 900 376 455 900 1250 2600
Toughness 5+ 7.5 3+5 4+6 6+8 7.5+8.5 18
Stretching
or break % 1.5+4 15+35 20/30 19 14 3.7
Moisture regain % 12 0 0.4 4.5 0.5 6

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