HMPE Mooring Lines
Fibres Guide
Ropemaking Materials
Materials used for fibre rope making can essentially be split into three categories. These being:
High Modulus Synthetic Fibres
General Purpose Synthetic Fibres
Traditional Natural Fibres
High Modulus Synthetic Fibres (HMSF)
High Modulus Synthetic Fibres (HMSF) have low elongation and high strength, usually in the region of at least 8 times that of a comparable steel product. This low elongation and high strength make them very attractive for many applications, particularly for wire rope substitution. HMSF fibres include Aramid, High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE), and Liquid Crystal Fibres (LCP).
Other fibres such as carbon and glass fibres are also used but these tend to be very specialised applications such as high temperature cladding, etc. Typical Applications where HMSF fibres are used include:
Marine & Offshore:
Ship mooring lines
Tug towlines and pennants
Trawl warps
Seismic array towlines
Deep water installation lines
Heavy Lifting & Construction:
Heavy lift slings
Crane hoist ropes
Crane and excavator static boom pennant lines
Recovery & Utility:
4x4 and recovery vehicle winch lines
Tow recovery lines
Soft shackles
Sports & Leisure:
Yachting rigging and running lines
Mast and aerial stays
Media & Special Applications:
Stadium camera control lines
Nylon SPM Mooring Hawser
General Purpose Synthetic Fibres
These synthetics make up the bulk of fibres used today in rope production and covers materials such as Nylon (Polyamide), Polyester (Terylene), Polypropylene and polyethylene and blended fibres which can either be melt mixed or twisted fibre blend combinations of polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene.
Typical applications for these lines include:
Ships mooring lines
SPM / FPSO mooring hawsers
Tug towlines and pennants
Tow and Kernmantle recovery lines
General purpose ropes
Yachting running lines and moorings.
Natural Fibres
While traditional natural fibres such as manila, jute and sisal are still utilised in some applications, in many cases they have now been substituted with general purpose synthetics. However, some applications where natural fibres are still used are as follows:
Marine - Historic sailing ships, traditional barges, whipping twines, etc.
Film & Theatre - Period dramas, stage riggings etc.
Sports & Gyms - Climbing ropes, battle ropes etc.
Barrier Ropes - Used for fencing, decking etc.
Fenders - As large single ropes around a vessel or knotted as part of large bow and hanging fenders.
Manila Rope and Yarn
