Ropecare Advice

Ropes should be stored in a suitable clean, dry place out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperature.  Do not store ropes on dirty floors or drag over rough ground – dirt and grit can work between the fibres and cause abrasion damage.  Keep ropes away from chemicals and in cases of long term storage, hose down with fresh water to reduce dirt and salt that can affect the life and efficiency.

3 Strand ropes may become damaged if they are taken from a coil the wrong way.  If this happens turn the coil over and withdraw the rope from the centre – the rope should run correctly without kinking.

When any rope is used around a sheave there will be a reduction in its strength and life.  For most non-specialised applications a sheave diameter 8-10 times the rope diameter will suffice, however certain materials such as Aramids may require a sheave size of up to 20 times diameter.

When a rope is wound onto a winch it is important that the wraps are neat and tightly wound.  This can be achieved by winding the rope on whilst under tension.  If the rope is wound on slack then it will be more prone to burying between the turns of the previous layer.

The materials used in the construction of synthetic fibre ropes can be affected by exposure to chemicals, often this will reduce the strength of the rope - see physical properties section for more information.  Each of the materials is affected differently by different chemicals, if chemical exposure is expected contact Marlow ropes for more details.  If a rope has been exposed to a chemical that may have caused damage it should be retired from use.  Chemical damage often appears as discoloured or powdery / dusty yarns however the rope can be significantly weakened with no visible effects.

Exposure to elevated temperatures can change the properties of a rope.  In some cases these changes can be beneficial e.g. Pre stretching and heat setting.  More often the effects of heat will be to reduce the strength and damage the rope.  It is important to avoid exposing a rope to localised heat sources or elevated temperatures.  This must be ensured both in use and when the rope is stored

When a rope is used on a winch or capstan it is possible to generate enough heat through friction to melt or fuse the fibres of the rope resulting in a reduction in performance.  To avoid this care should be taken to avoid excessive slipping or surging.  Many ropes are designed specifically to withstand friction generated heat - please contact our technical department for more details.

All the materials used in the construction of synthetic fibre ropes are to a greater or lesser extent effected by exposure to UV radiation.  Wherever possible try to limit the exposure of the rope to sunlight.  Smaller ropes are effected more than large ropes since they have a larger exposed surface area in proportion to their volume.  The effect of UV radiation on a rope is directly linked to the inherent UV properties of the yarn used in design and manufacture - see physical properties section for more information.

All ropes can be damaged if they are exposed to abrasive surfaces or sharp edges.  Care should be taken to try and avoid running a rope over any non-moving surface.  If the rope is run over sheaves or rollers they should be kept in good order with a smooth surface and they must be free to rotate.

The properties of nylon in particular are changed slightly when they become wet. The fibre shrinks, the strength is reduced by up to 15% and the extension increases. You will notice a general stiffening of the rope.  Other materials used in rope making are largely unaffected by even prolonged exposure to water.

Regarding the Covid19 pandemic we recognise that our customers are concerned about how they can ensure their ropes are cleaned and disinfected. Marlow have always recommended that ropes are washed in pure soap. Based on the current guidance from the WHO, we believe this will be effective at combating Covid19 as soap breaks down the virus’s lipid shell rendering it unviable. 

Tension fatigue will occur any time a rope is loaded.  It is related to the loads that the rope is subjected to.  It is possible to improve the ropes resistance to this type of fatigue by applying marine finishes to the yarn.  The life of a rope can be improved by using at a lower load.  Rope constructions with low ‘construction’ have good resistance to this type of fatigue.

Bending fatigue occurs any time a rope is flexed.  It is important to allow for this if a rope is used on sheaves or rollers.  This form of fatigue is related to the load and can still occur at very low tensions.  Rope constructions with high ‘construction’ have good resistance to this type of fatigue.

This is a rare form of fatigue that only occurs if a rope or components of a rope go into compression.  In this situation ‘kink bands’ can form in the individual filaments reducing their strength.  Compression fatigue can be avoided by maintaining the tension in the rope, using a rope with more ‘construction’ and ensuring that any sheaves and rollers are large enough to prevent any component of the rope from going into compression.  Most fibres are resilient to compression but care needs to be taken when Aramids are used.

Creep is a permanent extension due to molecular slippage, it occurs when a load is held on a rope for a period of time.  Most materials will exhibit creep to some degree.  Creep rate will increase at higher temperatures or higher loads.  The fibres most effected by creep are polypropylene and polyethylene.