Climbing ropes | edit

DURAROPE climbing ropes utilize a kernmantle construction consisting of a core (kern) covered by a sheath (mantle). The core is the main load-bearing element and largely determines a rope’s characteristics, such as static elongation, maximum impact force, and strength. The sheath is braided tightly around the core and its primary purpose is to protect the core against abrasion, but the relationship between the core and sheath also helps determine a rope’s handling characteristics.

Prior to World War II, all ropes were made of natural fibers, including jute, sisal, cotton, and manila. Today, all mountaineering and rappelling ropes are made of 100% nylon, or with a polypropylene core with a nylon sheath. Nylon offers the closest thing to an ideal combination of strength, resiliency, elasticity, and abrasion resistance, and is hence ideally suited for mountaineering use.

Dynamic

Ropes used for climbing are normally dynamic. They are designed to stretch when fallen on, absorbing shock and dissipating the energy generated when arresting a fall. Dynamic ropes are made of nylon, and where required the core is shrunk and stabilized by steam to increase the elongation under load and to reduce changes after becoming wet. Typical sizes range from 8 to 11mm diameter.

Static

Static ropes have relatively less extensibility. When new, the elongation at 10% of breaking strength is approximately 5%. Static ropes are used for rescue work and other applications which do not require high energy absorption.