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Fibre Ropes & Slings

At Rope Services Direct we stock and supply a complete range of fibre ropes and
slings.  Fibre rope still has an important part to play in industry and agriculture and although the items listed below do not cover the entire range of constructions, some important information on the properties of the four main rope groups is provided. 

Sisal & Manilla Rope

Sisal is a natural fibre taken from a plant.  It is constructed from small yarns wound together and bound by friction.  Sisal is the weaker of the four main types of rope and most applications can be performed by other man made alternatives, however, it possesses aesthetic qualities that many man made ropes do not.  Its finish provides it with good gripping qualities making it an ideal rope for use with block and tackle sets, and is normally, rot proofed at manufacture.

Polypropylene Rope

An oil based man made fibre which has become the most versatile of all the fibre ropes.  Although it was originally manufactured in sturdee construction which had a smooth surface finish, it is now also available in staplespun construction which has a hairy finish, similar to that found on most natural fibre ropes.  This has the advantage of assisting in grip, particularly when wet.
Polypropylene is completely rot proof and waterproof and has excellent resistance to both acids and alkalis.  It also has relatively low stretch under load, when compared with some of the stronger fibre ropes.

Polyester (Terylene) Rope

Another oil based man made fibre with very high strength and good resistance to abrasion.  It is much softer to the touch than polypropylene but has considerably more stretch under load.  This stretch can be reduced by the process of pre-stretching at the point of manufacture.  Polyester is completely rot proof and waterproof.  It is virtually unaffected by chemical attack from most acids, but will be subject to loss of strength when used in strong alkalis.

Nylon Rope

Nylon is marginally the strongest on the man made fibres.  It is also very hard wearing yet soft to the touch.  It has a very high stretch under initial loading which makes it ideal for shock loading work.  Nylon is known to have an excellent resistance to most alkalis but is fairly weak when used with acids.