PARAFIL® ROPE

Physical Properties
Technical Note PF1, Issue 4

1. PARAFIL® Types Table 2 ~ Basic Characteristics of Types A and A(C)

PARAFIL® Ropes
PARAFIL® ropes consist of a closely packed core of Nominal Nominal Nominal CSA of Approxi- Estimated
high strength synthetic fibres lying parallel to each Breaking
Load (NBL)
Diameter Diameter
of
Fibre in the
Core
mate
Weight in
Weight * in
Seawater
other, and encased in a tough and durable polymeric Fibre Core Air (Core
(Tonnes) (mm) Flooded)
sheath. (mm) (mm2) (kg/100m) (kg /
100m)

The parallel fibre structure ensures that PARAFIL® 0.3 4 3.0 5.19 1.2 -
ropes have high strength and modulus characteristics 0.5
1
7
8.5
3.7
5.3
7.97
15.94
3.7
5.4
0.05
0.2
coupled with an excellent tension-tension fatigue per- 2 11 7.5 31.88 9.4 0.5
3.5 13.5 10 55.8 14.5 2.1
formance and low creep. 5 17 12 79.7 22 2.1
7.5 20 15 119.6 30 4.6
10 22 17 159.4 37 5.0
There are three standard types of PARAFIL® based on 15 27.5 22 239.1 56 7.5
20 31 24 318.8 73 9.3
the kind of fibre used. Each has a choice of three dif- 30 36 29 478.2 99 13.4
ferent polymeric sheaths. A flame retardant variety is 50
60
47
53
39
42
797
956
165
215
25
32
also available. The product range is shown in Table 1. 100 64 56 1594 310 77
200 90 77 3188 622 143
250 99 86 3985 763 153
Table 1 ~ PARAFIL® Types
TABLE 3 ~ Basic Characteristics of Type F and F(C),
Yarn Type Sheath materials and Types G and G(C), PARAFIL® Ropes
Polyethylene Polyethylene Polyester Flame Retar- (Note Type G ropes have a higher elastic modulus than Type F ropes)
dant Nominal Estimated
Nominal Break- Nominal CSA of Fibre in Approximate
(LDPE) Copolymer Elastomer Cross linked Diameter of Weight * in
ing Load (NBL) Diameter the Core Weight in Air
Fibre Core Seawater
(EVA) (Hytrel) Polymer    (Core Flooded)
(Tonnes) (mm) (mm) (mm2) (kg/100m) (kg/100m)

0.75 4 3 4.8 1.2 -

High Tenac- Type A Type A (C) Type A (H) Type A (X)
1.5 7 4 7.64 3.7 0.13
ity polyester
3 8.5 5.4 15.28 5.4 0.34
4.5 9.5 6.6 22.92 6.9 0.6
Standard Type F Type F (C) Type F (H) Type F (X)
6 11 7.6 30.55 9.1 0.8
Modulus
Aramid 8 13 8.9 40.73 12.9 1.5
10.5 13.5 10 53.47 14.9 2.6
15 17 12.5 76.38 21.5 3.7
High Type G Type G (C) Type G (H) Type G (X) 22.5 20 15 114.6 30 5.8
Modulus 30 22 17 152.8 37 7.2
Aramid 45 27.5 21.5 229.2 60 7.5
60 31 24 305.5 72 8.2
90 36 29 458.3 100 16

The specially formulated polyethylene sheath is most 150 47 39 763.8 170 29

commonly used and is perfectly satisfactory for most Note since PARAFIL® ropes consist of a closely packed core of cylindrical filaments there is
purposes, but the polyethylene-EVA copolymer sheath always an air space amounting to 25-30% of the cross sectional area of the core. If the ropes
are sealed to prevent the penetration of water then they will float. If the ropes are allowed to
is more flexible. Higher resistance to heat and abrasion become completely saturated they will have this weight in sea water.
can be obtained from the polyester elastomer. 2. Tensile Properties
® The load-extension curves are shown in Figure 1 and were obtained
The standard ranges of PARAFIL ropes are shown in after pre-tensioning to 60% Nominal Breaking Load and then relaxing
table 2 and 3, other sizes are available as requested. for 1 hour, using a PARAFIL® termination fitted to each end of the test
length.

Linear Composites Limited

Vale Mills
Oakworth
Phone: +44 (0)1535 643363
Fax: +44 (0)1535 643605 abcdef
Keighley, West Yorkshire Email: [email protected]
BD22 0EB, United Kingdom Web: www.linearcomposites.com Linear Composites are a member of the Maccaferri Group
Figure 1 ~ Load Extension Curves for Type A, F and G PARAFIL® Figure 2 ~ Load Extension Curves for Type A PARAFIL® at Vari-
ous Temperatures
120 120

100 100

80 80
% of Nominal Breaking  Load

% of Nominal Breaking Load
60 Type A 60 ‐ 65 Deg C

Type F 20 Deg C

Type G 55 Deg C

40 40

20
20

0
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
% Extension
% Extension

4. Fire Resistance
More Detailed Load Extension curves are available from Linear Composites Ltd

The tensile properties given in Table 4 are based on the Type A and A(C) and A(H) PARAFIL® will burn if exposed
cross sectional area of fibre in the core. to a flame. However the sheathing materials can be made
flame retardant if required (see separate Technical Note).
The tensile properties are determined solely by the type Aramid fibres do not burn but decompose at around 460°
and quantity of fibre used in the core and are independent C. As with Type A PARAFIL® a flame retardant sheath
of the sheath type. can be supplied.

TABLE 4 ~ Tensile Strength and Elastic Modulus of 5. Resistance to Environmental Effects

PARAFIL® Ropes 5.1 Corrosion Resistance
The ability of a rope to resist deterioration over long and
PARAFIL® Rope Tensile Strength at NBL
Elastic Modulus continuous exposure to the environment is of prime impor-
(Young’s) tance. With this in mind PARAFIL® ropes have been
kNmm-2 kNmm-2
evolved from materials which not only possess a high de-
Type A 0.6 9.8 gree of mechanical toughness but which are extremely
Type F 1.9 77.7 inert chemically. For example the core and sheath compo-
nents used in PARAFIL® have outstanding resistance to
Type G 1.9 125.6
the corrosive action of salt water, most inorganic salts and
acids and many organic solvents. An example of this was
Note: All Type A PARAFIL® ropes have the same core and therefore the same shown when an examination of Type A ropes recovered
tensile properties. This is also true for the F and G series of PARAFIL®.
from the sea water moorings after 10 years showed that
3. Effect of Temperature the ropes were clean and in good condition. Tensile test-
ing of both the rope and individual core fibres revealed no
Polyester fibres melt at about 260° C. Aramid fibres do significant decrease in strength.
not melt but decompose at around 460° C. It is important Resistance to marine biological attack is extremely high
to differentiate between 1) the effect of exposing the fibre and the smooth sheath inhibits build up of marine growth.
to high temperatures and testing at that temperature, and 5.2 Resistance to Sunlight
2) the effect of exposing to high temperatures for periods The black polyethylene and polyethylene copolymers used
of time but testing at normal temperatures. for the sheathing of PARAFIL® ropes are especially formu-
lated for maximum resistance to Ultra Violet degradation.
PARAFIL® based on aramid fibres has been tested at tem- For instance, exposure of the black Polyethylene com-
peratures between –40° C and +80° C and has shown to pounds to Florida sunlight for 29 years caused no signifi-
have no detectable change in properties. Moreover ara- cant degradation or embrittlement.
mid fibres exposed to a temperature of 150° C for long 5.3 Icing
periods of time show no detectable change in residual There is very poor adhesion between ice and the smooth
strength when tested at normal temperatures. Aramid water repellent surface of PARAFIL® ropes. This was
fibres show a strength loss of only 5% after 20 hours expo- clearly demonstrated in tests carried out in the British Air-
sure at 200° C when tested at normal temperatures. craft Corporation climatic chamber.
Trials on fishing vessels in Icelandic waters have shown
The Breaking Load of PARAFIL® based on Polyester has that PARAFIL® mast-stays freed themselves of ice when
been found to be virtually unaffected when tested at tem- aided by the ships vibration transmitted through the rig-
peratures between –65° C and +55° C but there are small ging.
changes in extension, as shown in Figure 2. Polyester 5.4 High Speed Loading
fibres are not affected by long exposures at temperatures Type A PARAFIL® ropes have been tested under condi-
up to about 80°-100° C, but if tested at these temperatures tions of high speed loading by the National Engineering
they will show a small reduction in strength. Laboratories in the UK. At a loading speed of 15.2m/sec
(50ft/sec) on a 6m (20ft) long sample, breaking loads 10-
If PARAFIL® ropes are to be used at temperatures above 15% below nominal were recorded. The energy absorbed
80° C for long periods of time it is recommended that a was measured as 2000 joules (1500ft.lbf) per tonne of
polyester elastomer sheath be used. breaking load (note this was for a 6m length).

Linear Composites Limited ~ Phone: +44 (0)1535 643363 ~ Email: [email protected]