Page 14 - Maria Constantino "The Knot Handbook"

Developed by the chemical industries in disadvantages. Synthetic ropes are more sus-
the early part of the twentieth century, a wide ceptible to heat generated by friction: they
range of synthetic ropes has been developed can become soft, they can melt, and, in
since the Second World War. Synthetic-fibre extreme circumstances, ropes can part.
cordage can comprise single, round fibres Furthermore, because synthetic ropes are z
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called monofilaments, clusters of round multi- often very smooth, knots can easily slip :;11::1
0
fi laments, staples (made by cutting mono- or undone. Where natural- fi bre ropes have their 0
c
multifilaments into short lengths) or flat, nar- own 'in-built' resistance to slippage, knots tied n
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row, ribbon-like fibres. All synthetic ropes in synthetic ropes need to be secured by an
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share the same characteristics: they all have extra tuck or half-hitch. Slippage in synthetic z
high tensile (breaking) strengths and load- ropes can also be overcome by constructing
bearing qualities; they can absorb shock; they laid ropes.
don't rot or degrade in sea water and are gen-
erally resistant to chemical damage; and they
absorb less water that natural-fibre ropes, so
their breaking strains rern.ain constant even
when they are wet. Synthetic cordage can
even be dyed, so cordage can be colour-
coded according to its use.
W hile synthetic cordage is not subject
to the problems that affect natural-fibre
ropes, they do, nevertheless, have their own

Synthetic rope is stronger,
more hard-wearing and
lighter in we ight t han
natural rope.