Cortland Slings
Cortland Slings
Cortland Slings
Plasma
®
Sling Ratings
Scope
The purpose of this document is to provide technical sling performance data for
safe choice and use of Cortland’s Plasma® high performance synthetic slings.
While Cortland does manufacture heavy lift slings from other modern synthetic fiber materials such as Technora®
(Aramid), Vectran® (LCP), Polyester and Nylon (Polyamide), the most popular fiber is Ultra High Molecular Weight
Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Plasma® UHMWPE rope slings are extremely durable, have superior strength/weight
benefits and have elongation properties after proof loading, similar to wire rope. Specifications of a synthetic rope
sling may include additional mechanical components such as end termination hardware, (e.g. thimbles), fittings, (e.g.
shackles) and wear protection. These slings are excellent lightweight lifting tools and can be used for many land-
based and marine lifting applications.
If the information provided within this document does not address or answer all product support needs, please contact
Cortland at +1 (360) 293-8488, toll-free at 1-888-525-8488 or email [email protected].
Plasma® 12-Strand
Plasma 12-Strand is manufactured from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) that has been
enhanced by Cortland’s patented recrystallization process to significantly enhance its strength. During processing,
a polyurethane coating is added to provide protection against application hazards such as abrasion. The finished
Plasma is very durable, cut resistant (compared to other synthetic ropes) and has very good UV resistance. It also
has excellent bending flex fatigue—far superior to wire rope. It is extremely flexible and conforms easily to surfaces.
Plasma 12x12
Plasma 12x12 is a 12-strand braided rope in which each of the twelve strands is, in turn, a 12-strand rope, or
braided primary strand. This patented construction addresses the most critical properties of the fibers to provide
very high strength translation efficiency for larger ropes. This design allows for long lay lengths, making rope that is
more flexible for bending applications, easy to inspect, and can be quickly spliced using standard 12-strand splicing
techniques. Plasma 12x12 is supplied with our standard polyurethane finish, although other coatings can be applied
to suit specific applications.
Chart continues on next page, along with caution statements and effect of bending considerations.
Minimum Break Load (MBL) in pounds or tonnes and is determined using spliced test samples in accordance with Cordage Institute 1500-02 - Test Method
for Fiber Ropes.
Minimum Sling Length on Eye & Eye fabricated Cortland slings assumes 1) a compressed minimum eye splice of 6.75 times the rope diameter in inches, and
2) a clear span area between splices of 10 times Cortland rope circumference in feet.
The recommended Design Factor (DF) of 5:1 on this chart is based on several existing lifting sling standards including ASME B30.9. This design factor
takes into account various factors including the use of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fiber which is extremely durable and resistant
to repeated high loads. Plasma® rope slings have and can be used with different DF ratios: however, this is a decision which must be made by a qualified
person or designer of the lift in conjunction with the rope manufacturer.
Cortland, at this time, does not recommend the use of Plasma rope slings in a choker hitch at a lifting angle of less than 120°. Testing on rated values is not
complete and available at this time.
Bending Guidance
In theory, a sling used in a basket configuration could have twice the working load as a sling in a vertical configuration because two
ropes are now holding the load instead of one. However, because of bending reductions this theory is incorrect. Users must reduce
that factor-of-two by an efficiency factor (i.e., a bending reduction factor).
The more tight a bend is, the more the bending efficiency reduces. If you have a gentle bend, the D:d ratio might be very high. But
as the D:d ratio goes down, the bending reduction increases. Example: a 5:1 D:d ratio provides only 80% efficiency.
Minimum
Sling 120° or >
Nominal Size Length Sling Capacity Ratings at Work Load Limits (WLL) in Pounds
Dia. inch Dia. mm Circ. inch MBL- Pounds Ft/Inch Plasma® 12-Strand
1/4 6 3/4 13,200 0' 6" 2,640 1,120 4,750 4,110 3,360 2,370
5/16 8 15/16 19,305 0' 8" 3,860 1,630 6,940 6,010 4,910 3,470
3/8 9 1-1/8 28,875 0' 10" 5,770 2,450 10,300 9,000 7,350 5,190
7/16 11 1-1/4 34,650 0' 11" 6,930 2,940 12,400 10,800 8,820 6,230
1/2 12 1-1/2 51,645 1' 0" 10,300 4,380 18,500 16,100 13,100 9,290
9/16 14 1-3/4 62,535 1' 2" 12,500 5,300 22,500 19,400 15,900 11,200
5/8 16 2 84,810 1' 4" 16,900 7,190 30,500 26,400 21,500 15,200
3/4 18 2-1/4 113,025 1' 6" 22,600 9,590 40,600 35,200 28,700 20,300
13/16 20 2-1/2 122,100 1' 8" 24,400 10,300 43,900 38,000 31,000 21,900
7/8 22 2-3/4 152,790 1' 10" 30,500 12,900 55,000 47,600 38,800 27,500
1 24 3 181,500 2' 0" 36,300 15,400 65,300 56,500 46,200 32,600
1-1/16 26 3-1/4 213,180 2' 2" 42,600 18,000 76,700 66,400 54,200 38,300
1-1/8 28 3-1/2 242,550 2' 4" 48,500 20,500 87,300 75,600 61,700 43,600
1-1/4 30 3-3/4 272,250 2' 6" 54,400 23,100 98,000 84,800 69,300 49,000
1-5/16 32 4 323,400 2' 8" 64,600 27,400 116,400 100,800 82,300 58,200
1-1/2 36 4-1/2 364,650 3' 0" 72,900 30,900 131,200 113,600 92,800 65,600
Plasma® 12x12
1-5/8 40 5 480,150 3' 4" 96,000 40,700 172,800 149,600 122,200 86,400
1-3/4 44 5-1/2 518,100 3' 6" 103,600 43,900 186,500 161,500 131,800 93,200
2 48 6 585,750 4' 0" 117,100 49,700 210,800 182,600 149,100 105,400
2-1/8 52 6-1/2 706,200 4' 4" 141,200 59,900 254,200 220,100 179,700 127,100
2-1/4 56 7 793,650 4' 6" 158,700 67,300 285,700 247,400 202,000 142,800
2-1/2 60 7-1/2 874,500 5' 0" 174,900 74,200 314,800 272,600 222,600 157,400
2-5/8 64 8 983,400 5' 4" 196,600 83,400 354,000 306,500 250,300 177,000
2-3/4 68 8-1/2 1,089,000 5' 6" 217,800 92,400 392,000 339,500 277,200 196,000
3 72 9 1,287,000 6' 0" 257,400 109,200 463,300 401,200 327,600 231,600
3-1/8 76 9-1/2 1,402,500 6' 4" 280,500 119,000 504,000 437,200 357,000 252,400
3-1/4 80 10 1,551,000 6' 6" 310,200 131,600 558,000 483,500 394,800 279,100
3-1/2 84 10-1/2 1,828,200 7' 0" 365,600 155,100 658,000 569,000 465,300 329,000
3-5/8 88 11 2,062,500 7' 4" 412,500 175,000 742,000 643,000 525,000 371,200
3-3/4 92 11-1/2 2,173,050 7' 6" 434,600 184,300 782,000 677,000 553,000 391,100
4 96 12 2,508,000 8' 0" 501,000 212,800 902,000 781,000 638,000 451,400
4-1/8 100 12-1/2 2,676,300 8' 4" 535,000 227,000 963,000 834,000 681,000 481,700
4-1/4 104 13 2,800,050 8' 6" 560,000 237,500 1,008,000 872,000 712,000 504,000
4-1/2 108 13-1/2 3,014,550 9' 0" 602,000 255,700 1,085,000 939,000 767,000 542,000
4-5/8 112 14 3,102,000 9' 4" 620,000 263,200 1,116,000 967,000 789,000 558,000
4-3/4 116 14-1/2 3,179,550 9' 6" 635,000 269,700 1,144,000 991,000 809,000 572,000
5 120 15 3,414,675 10' 0" 682,000 289,700 1,229,000 1,064,000 869,000 614,000
5-1/8 124 15-1/2 3,649,800 10' 4" 729,000 309,600 1,313,000 1,137,000 929,000 656,000
5-1/4 128 16 3,885,750 10' 6" 777,000 329,700 1,398,000 1,211,000 989,000 699,000
5-1/2 132 16-1/2 4,120,875 11' 0" 824,000 349,600 1,483,000 1,284,000 1,049,000 741,000
5-5/8 136 17 4,356,000 11' 4" 871,000 369,600 1,568,000 1,358,000 1,108,000 784,000
5-3/4 140 17-1/2 4,591,125 11' 6" 918,000 389,500 1,652,000 1,431,000 1,168,000 826,000
Chart continues on next page, along with caution statements and effect of bending considerations.
Minimum
Sling 120° or >
Nominal Size Length Sling Capacity Ratings at Work Load Limits (WLL) in Pounds
Dia. inch Dia. mm Circ. inch MBL- Pounds Ft/Inch Plasma® 12-Strand
6 144 18 4,826,250 12' 0" 965,000 409,000 1,737,000 1,504,000 1,228,000 868,000
6-1/8 148 18-1/2 5,062,200 12' 4" 1,012,000 429,000 1,822,000 1,578,000 1,288,000 911,000
6-1/4 152 19 5,297,325 12' 6" 1,059,000 449,000 1,907,000 1,651,000 1,348,000 953,000
6-1/2 156 19-1/2 5,532,450 13' 0" 1,106,000 469,000 1,991,000 1,724,000 1,408,000 995,000
6-5/8 160 20 5,768,400 13' 4" 1,153,000 489,000 2,076,000 1,798,000 1,468,000 1,038,000
6-3/4 164 20-1/2 6,003,525 13' 6" 1,200,000 509,000 2,161,000 1,871,000 1,528,000 1,080,000
7 168 21 6,238,650 14' 0" 1,247,000 529,000 2,245,000 1,945,000 1,588,000 1,122,000
7-1/8 172 21-1/2 6,539,775 14' 4" 1,307,000 554,000 2,354,000 2,038,000 1,664,000 1,177,000
7-1/4 176 22 6,708,900 14' 6" 1,341,000 569,000 2,415,000 2,091,000 1,707,000 1,207,000
7-1/2 180 22-1/2 6,944,850 15' 0" 1,388,000 589,000 2,500,000 2,165,000 1,767,000 1,250,000
7-5/8 184 23 7,179,975 15' 4" 1,435,000 609,000 2,584,000 2,238,000 1,827,000 1,292,000
7-3/4 188 23-1/2 7,415,100 15' 6" 1,483,000 629,000 2,669,000 2,311,000 1,887,000 1,334,000
8 192 24 7,651,050 16' 0" 1,530,000 649,000 2,754,000 2,385,000 1,947,000 1,377,000
8-1/8 196 24-1/2 7,885,350 16' 4" 1,577,000 669,000 2,838,000 2,458,000 2,007,000 1,419,000
8-1/4 200 25 8,121,300 16' 6" 1,624,000 689,000 2,923,000 2,531,000 2,067,000 1,461,000
Minimum Break Load (MBL) in pounds or tonnes and is determined using spliced test samples in accordance with Cordage Institute 1500-02 - Test Method
for Fiber Ropes.
Specifications for endless loop (grommet) Plasma® rope slings assume one end-to-end splice. The length of splice determines the minimum length of a
grommet sling.
The recommended Design Factor (DF) of 5:1 on this chart is based on several existing lifting sling standards including ASME B30.9. This design factor
takes into account various factors including the use of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fiber which is extremely durable and resistant
to repeated high loads. Plasma® rope slings have and can be used with different DF ratios: however, this is a decision which must be made by a qualified
person or designer of the lift in conjunction with the rope manufacturer.
Cortland, at this time, does not recommend the use of Plasma rope slings in a choker hitch at a lifting angle of less than 120°. Testing on rated values is not
complete and available at this time.
Bending Guidance
In theory, a sling used in a basket configuration could have twice the working load as a sling in a vertical configuration because two
ropes are now holding the load instead of one. However, because of bending reductions this theory is incorrect. Users must reduce
that factor-of-two by an efficiency factor (i.e., a bending reduction factor).
The more tight a bend is, the more the bending efficiency reduces. If you have a gentle bend, the D:d ratio might be very high. But
as the D:d ratio goes down, the bending reduction increases. Example: a 5:1 D:d ratio provides only 97% efficiency.
Chart continues on next page, along with caution statements and effect of bending considerations.
Minimum Break Load (MBL) in pounds or tonnes and is determined using spliced test samples in accordance with Cordage Institute 1500-02 - Test Method
for Fiber Ropes.
Minimum Sling Length on Eye & Eye fabricated Cortland slings assumes 1) a compressed minimum eye splice of 6.75 times the rope diameter in millimeters,
and 2) a clear span area between splices of 10 times Cortland rope circumference in feet.
The recommended Design Factor (DF) of 5:1 on this chart is based on several existing lifting sling standards including ASME B30.9. This design factor
takes into account various factors including the use of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fiber which is extremely durable and resistant
to repeated high loads. Plasma® rope slings have and can be used with different DF ratios: however, this is a decision which must be made by a qualified
person or designer of the lift in conjunction with the rope manufacturer.
Cortland, at this time, does not recommend the use of Plasma rope slings in a choker hitch at a lifting angle of less than 120°. Testing on rated values is not
complete and available at this time.
Bending Guidance
In theory, a sling used in a basket configuration could have twice the working load as a sling in a vertical configuration because two
ropes are now holding the load instead of one. However, because of bending reductions this theory is incorrect. Users must reduce
that factor-of-two by an efficiency factor (i.e., a bending reduction factor).
The more tight a bend is, the more the bending efficiency reduces. If you have a gentle bend, the D:d ratio might be very high. But
as the D:d ratio goes down, the bending reduction increases. Example: a 5:1 D:d ratio provides only 80% efficiency.
Nominal Size Length Sling Capacity Ratings at Work Load Limits (WLL) in tonnes
Dia. inch Dia. mm Circ. inch MBL tonnes m Plasma® 12-Strand
1/4 6 3/4 5.9 0.2 1.1 0.5 2.1 1.8 1.5 1.0
5/16 8 15/16 8.7 0.2 1.7 0.7 3.1 2.7 2.2 1.5
3/8 9 1-1/8 13.0 0.3 2.6 1.1 4.7 4.0 3.3 2.3
7/16 11 1-1/4 15.7 0.3 3.1 1.3 5.6 4.9 4.0 2.8
1/2 12 1-1/2 23.4 0.4 4.6 1.9 8.4 7.3 5.9 4.2
9/16 14 1-3/4 28.3 0.4 5.6 2.4 10.2 8.8 7.2 5.1
5/8 16 2 38.4 0.4 7.6 3.2 13.8 11.9 9.7 6.9
3/4 18 2-1/4 51.2 0.5 10.2 4.3 18.4 15.9 13.0 9.2
13/16 20 2-1/2 55.3 0.5 11.0 4.6 19.9 17.2 14.0 9.9
7/8 22 2-3/4 69.3 0.6 13.8 5.8 24.9 21.6 17.6 12.4
1 24 3 82.3 0.7 16.4 6.9 29.6 25.6 20.9 14.8
1 26 3-1/4 96.6 0.7 19.3 8.2 34.8 30.1 24.6 17.4
1-1/8 28 3-1/2 110.0 0.7 22.0 9.3 39.6 34.3 28.0 19.8
1-1/4 30 3-3/4 123.4 0.8 24.6 10.4 44.4 38.5 31.4 22.2
1-1/3 32 4 146.6 0.9 29.3 12.4 52.8 45.7 37.3 26.4
1-1/4 36 4-1/2 165.4 1.0 33.0 14.0 59.5 51.5 42.1 29.7
Plasma® 12x12
1-5/8 40 5 217 1.0 43 18 78 67 55 39
1-3/4 44 5-1/2 235 1.1 47 19 84 73 59 42
2 48 6 265 1.3 53 22 95 82 67 47
2-1/8 52 6-1/2 320 1.3 64 27 115 99 81 57
2-1/4 56 7 359 1.4 71 30 129 112 91 64
2-1/2 60 7-1/2 396 1.6 79 33 142 123 100 71
2-5/8 64 8 446 1.7 89 37 160 139 113 80
2-3/4 68 8-1/2 493 1.7 98 41 177 154 125 88
3 72 9 583 1.9 116 49 210 182 148 105
3-1/8 76 9-1/2 636 2.0 127 53 229 198 161 114
3-1/4 80 10 703 2.0 140 59 253 219 179 126
3-1/2 84 10-1/2 829 2.2 165 70 298 258 211 149
3-5/8 88 11 935 2.3 187 79 336 291 238 168
3-3/4 92 11-1/2 985 2.3 197 83 354 307 250 177
4 96 12 1,137 2.5 227 96 409 354 289 204
4-1/8 100 12-1/2 1,213 2.6 242 103 437 378 309 218
4-1/4 104 13 1,270 2.6 254 107 457 395 323 228
4-1/2 108 13-1/2 1,367 2.8 273 116 492 426 348 246
4-5/8 112 14 1,407 2.9 281 119 506 438 358 253
4-3/4 116 14-1/2 1,442 2.9 288 122 519 449 367 259
5 120 15 1,548 3.1 309 131 557 482 394 278
5-1/8 124 15-1/2 1,655 3.2 331 140 595 516 421 297
5-1/4 128 16 1,762 3.3 352 149 634 549 448 317
5-1/2 132 16-1/2 1,869 3.4 373 158 672 582 475 336
5-5/8 136 17 1,975 3.5 395 167 711 616 502 355
5-3/4 140 17-1/2 2,082 3.6 416 176 749 649 530 374
Chart continues on next page, along with caution statements and effect of bending considerations.
Nominal Size Length Sling Capacity Ratings at Work Load Limits (WLL) in tonnes
Dia. inch Dia. mm Circ. inch MBL tonnes m Plasma® 12-Strand
6 144 18 2,187 3.7 437 185 787 681 556 393
6-1/8 148 18-1/2 2,294 3.8 458 194 825 715 583 412
6-1/4 152 19 2,400 3.9 480 203 864 748 611 432
6-1/2 156 19-1/2 2,507 4.0 501 212 902 781 638 451
6-5/8 160 20 2,614 4.1 522 221 941 815 665 470
6-3/4 164 20-1/2 2,720 4.2 544 230 979 848 692 489
7 168 21 2,827 4.3 565 239 1017 881 719 508
7-1/8 172 21-1/2 2,963 4.4 592 251 1066 923 754 533
7-1/4 176 22 3,040 4.5 608 257 1094 947 773 547
7-1/2 180 22-1/2 3,147 4.6 629 267 1133 981 801 566
7-5/8 184 23 3,253 4.7 650 276 1171 1014 828 585
7-3/4 188 23-1/2 3,360 4.8 672 285 1209 1047 855 604
8 192 24 3,467 4.9 693 294 1248 1081 882 624
8-1/8 196 24-1/2 3,573 5.0 714 303 1286 1114 909 643
8-1/4 200 25 3,680 5.1 736 312 1324 1147 936 662
Minimum Break Load (MBL) in pounds or tonnes and is determined using spliced test samples in accordance with Cordage Institute 1500-02 - Test Method
for Fiber Ropes.
Specifications for endless loop (grommet) Plasma® rope slings assume one end-to-end splice. The length of splice determines the minimum length of a
grommet sling.
The recommended Design Factor (DF) of 5:1 on this chart is based on several existing lifting sling standards including ASME B30.9. This design factor takes
into account various factors including the use of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) fiber which is extremely durable and resistant to
repeated high loads. Plasma rope slings have and can be used with different DF ratios: however, this is a decision which must be made by a qualified person
or designer of the lift in conjunction with the rope manufacturer.
Cortland, at this time, does not recommend the use of Plasma rope slings in a choker hitch at a lifting angle of less than 120°. Testing on rated values is not
complete and available at this time.
Bending Guidance
In theory, a sling used in a basket configuration could have twice the working load as a sling in a vertical configuration because two
ropes are now holding the load instead of one. However, because of bending reductions this theory is incorrect. Users must reduce
that factor-of-two by an efficiency factor (i.e., a bending reduction factor).
The more tight a bend is, the more the bending efficiency reduces. If you have a gentle bend, the D:d ratio might be very high. But
as the D:d ratio goes down, the bending reduction increases. Example: a 5:1 D:d ratio provides only 97% efficiency.
For more than 35 years, our custom-built solutions have been developed for work in the
toughest environments and to overcome some of the world’s greatest challenges. They
consistently enable our customers to meet the demands of the aerospace, defense, medical,
research, subsea, marine, and energy industries.
Cortland is a part of the Enerpac Tool Group (NYSE: EPAC), a diversified industrial company
with operations in more than 30 countries. cortlandcompany.com
CT_TL_005_0120_US