Choosing the right fiber
One of the building blocks of any line, regardless of ultimate use, is fiber. Is important for you, as the end-user expecting certain performance, to have a basic understanding of the characteristics of the various fibers used in the manufacture of rope today. The table below will help.
Fiber type |
Strength |
Stretch |
Resistance
to UV |
Cost |
| Nylon |
high |
high |
good |
moderate |
| Polyester |
high |
low |
good |
moderate |
| HMPE |
very high |
very low |
fair |
very high |
| Aramids |
very high |
very low |
fair |
very high |
| LCP |
very high |
very low |
fair |
very high |
| Polypropylene |
low |
high |
poor |
very low |
So where should these fibers be used?
Nylon: Applications where strength and shock absorption are important i.e. dock and anchor lines.
Polyester: Situations where strength, low stretch, and durability are key i.e. most running rigging applications.
HMPE, Aramids, and LCP: These are all generic fiber types. HMPE refers to Dyneema or Spectra; Aramids refer to Kevlar, Technora and Twaron, while LCP refers to Vectran. These are all considered very high performance fibers exhibiting very high strength and extremely low stretch but come with a high price tag. Generally found on very serious racing sailboats and larger yachts for running rigging.
Polypropylene: Applications where lightweight or very low cost is important such as light air spinnaker sheets or barrier rope for swimming.
As an ISO 9001 accredited manufacturer, New England's commitment is to utilize all their resources to maintain their position as one of the leading innovators in rope performance and technology. New England Ropes select only the highest quality fiber from leading worldwide suppliers. |
construction technique of wrapping the core and braiding a cover produces a line that will have higher strength and significantly less stretch than a comparable single or double braid. Innovation, experience, and high standards of quality are what New England Ropes set apart from the field.