Synthetic Rope Usage EEC-0060 V1.2
Synthetic Rope Usage,
Inspection, and Retirement
However, all synthetics to subject to melting if subjected to enough friction and heat;
therefore, practices such as surging on a gypsy-head winch, hard rendering around
poles, over cross-arms, etc., should be avoided whenever possible.
Temperature
Friction can be your best friend or worst enemy if it is not managed properly.
Friction takes place anytime two surfaces come in contact. Mild friction, sometimes
referred to as grip, is a good characteristic (i.e. winching applications). However, friction
creates heat, and the greater the friction the greater the heat buildup. Heat is an enemy
to synthetic fiber, and elevated temperatures can drastically reduce the strength and/or
cause rope melt-through.
High temperatures can be achieved when checking ropes on a cable, or running
over stuck or non-rolling sheaves or rollers. Each rope’s construction and fiber type will
yield a different coefficient of friction (resistance to slipping) in a new or used state. It is
important to understand the operational demands, and take into account the size of the
rope, construction, and fiber type to minimize heat buildup.
Never let ropes under tension rub together or move relative to one another.
Enough heat to melt the fibers can build up and cause to rope to quickly fail, as if cut by
a knife.
Be aware of heat buildup and take steps to minimize them. Under no
circumstances let any rope come in contact with an exhaust muffler or any other hot
object. The strength of a used rope can be determined by testing, but often the rope is
destroyed in the process so the ability to determine the retirement point before it fails in
service is essential. That ability is based on a combination of education in rope use and
construction, along with good judgment and experience. Remember, you almost always
get what you pay for in the form of performance and reliability.
Strength Degradation from Ultraviolet Light
Prolonged exposure of synthetic ropes to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight
causes varying degrees of strength degradation. Polyester fibers are the least affected
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