Kevlar is a synthetic fiber made of para-aramid chains, and Kevlar provide high tensile strength because the molecular structure of Kevlar is very stable. Kevlar was developed in the 1960s, and Kevlar became a common material for ropes in the 1970s. Many peoples use Kevlar for marine applications, and many people use Kevlar for rescue operations, and many people use Kevlar for industrial setups. Kevlar is different than nylon because nylon is a stretchy material, but Kevlar is a low-stretch material.
Nylon absorbs shocks because nylon stretch, but Kevlar does not stretch much when a load is applied to Kevlar. Kevlar typically has an elongation rate of less than 3% at the point of breaking, so Kevlar maintain its shape under tension. This low elongation means that a Kevlar rope will not stretch during a task, and because the Kevlar rope does not stretch, the user can maintain precision during a task.
Kevlar Rope: Strength, Uses and Care
The strength of Kevlar vary depending on the diameter of the Kevlar rope. A 1mm Kevlar cord is very thin, but a 12mm Kevlar hawser is very thick. As the diameter of the Kevlar rope increases, the breaking strength of the Kevlar rope also increases.
Kevlar is much lighter then steel wire, and many people compare the two materials at an equivalent load and find Kevlar is often five times lighter than steel wire. Nylon is less strong than Kevlar at the same diameter, and nylon also stretch more than Kevlar. Steel wire is very strong, but steel wire is much more heavier than Kevlar.
Dyneema is another material that is strong, but Kevlar has better resistance to cuts and abrasion than Dyneema has. You must understand that Kevlar is best suited for static loads. A static load is a load that does not involve frequent movement or bending.
Kevlar is an excellent choice for guy wires or tethers, but Kevlar may not be a good choice for use over pulley. This is because repeated bending can cause the rigid fibers in Kevlar to crack, and if the fibers crack, the Kevlar rope will lose its strength. You should use Kevlar for straight pulls or for turns with a large radius so that you do not damage the Kevlar fibers.
Kevlar is also resistant to heat. Kevlar can withstand temperatures up to 750°F without melting, and this makes Kevlar useful in engine bay or in fireground operations. Nylon is not resistant to high heat, and nylon will wilt when high heat exposes nylon.
However, you must protect Kevlar from ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. UV sunlight cause Kevlar to become brittle over time, so you should store Kevlar in a dark place or use a sheath to protect the Kevlar from sunlight. You should also inspect the Kevlar for signs of fading, because fading is a sign that the UV sunlight have damaged the Kevlar.
You should not tie knot in Kevlar rope if you want to maintain the strength of the rope. Tying a knot in Kevlar can reduce the strength of the Kevlar by 50%, but using a splice will allow the Kevlar to retain almost all of it’s strength. You should also be aware of the bend radius when using Kevlar.
The bend radius should be at least 10 times the diameter of the Kevlar rope for general use, and the bend radius should be at least 20 times the diameter of the Kevlar rope when you are using pulleys. Using the correct bend radius will help you to prevent damage to the Kevlar. Kevlar is used in many different industries.
Yacht racers use Kevlar halyards because Kevlar halyards are lighter than steel halyards. Kite flyers use thin Kevlar lines because the thin Kevlar lines allows for better control in high winds. Rescue teams use Kevlar haul lines because Kevlar haul lines are strong and lightweight.
Industrial workers use Kevlar slings to lift loads, and ROV operators use Kevlar cores in umbilicals to provide strength without adding excessive weight. Because Kevlar does not conduct electricity, antenna installer use Kevlar to avoid radio frequency interference. Finally, Kevlar is used in many type of body armor to stop ballistic impacts.
