
Machovec offers an extensive variety of
synthetic and natural fiber rope products to meet individual
market needs or specific application criteria. Continual research and
development with new technologies and fiber advancement ensure
revolutionary design to satisfy an ever increasing range of applications.
Go directly to product index

Types of Rope Construction
There are two main methods of rope
construction: laid, or twisted, ropes - the traditional form of
manufacture used when natural fiber ropes were in general use - and
braided ropes. Braided ropes, now usually double braided with a
braided cover over a braided core, have the great advantage of being
far less liable to kink than a traditional laid rope.
Types of Material Used in Ropes
In the "olden days", rope was made
of natural fibers, mostly Manila, but also hemp and others. They
worked, but have now been superseded by manmade fibers with much
better characteristics.
There are three main kinds of
manmade fiber: nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. Nylon is the
strongest of the three, followed by polyester and then polypropylene.
Nylon, in addition to being very strong, is elastic and thus most
suitable for dealing with shock loads (with anchors, for example), but
is unsuitable for applications where minimum stretch is necessary.
Polyester has the useful combination
of being strong and a low-stretch characteristic, thus making it
suitable for most purposes. Dacron®
is a trademark of polyester rope.
The main advantage of polypropylene
is that it floats. Therefore, it's the most useful rope to use for
dinghy painters and mooring pennants where a submerged rope could
offer hazards.
Recent additions to manmade fibers
are Spectra® (brand name of Allied Chemicals) and Kevlar®
(brand name of DuPont). Both are very light with immensely strong
filaments.
INFORMATION:

**Machovec works with manufacturers who are strong supporters and members of the Cordage Institute, a
voluntary trade association of rope, twines and cordage manufacturers that
has been serving the industry for over 75 years. One of its major roles is
the setting of industry standards, through a voluntary, consensus process,
coordinated by the Cordage Institute Technical Committee. A secondary role
is to inform people about cordage products and is accomplished by a
comprehensive publications list. The Cordage Institute has a web site at:
www.ropecord.com.
Products listed with the designation meet or exceed industry standards as
published by the Cordage Institute. Standards have not been established by
the Cordage Institute for all products. Those products without the symbol
are either designated for specific applications and needs, or a standard
has not been set by the Institute.

|