Aramid Rope, Aramid Cord (braided)

In this category you will find aramid ropes and aramid cords that are braided 100% from aramid fibres. Compared to the respective diameter, aramid rope / aramid cord has a very high strength. This means that cords made of aramid are extremely tear-resistant, have a high breaking load and are only minimally stretchable (elongation at working load < 1.5%).

The aramid fibres are non-flammable. Therefore, the aramid rope is heat-resistant up to a temperature of approx. 400 °C. In contrast to other synthetic fibre ropes, an aramid rope will not melt, but will only begin to char from a temperature of approx. 500 °C.

Further advantages of aramid cords are their generally good chemical resistance, the very good resistance to cuts and, not least, the permanent dimensional stability. So-called creep, an essentially time- and temperature-dependent undesirable elongation of the rope under constant load, is not present in aramid ropes.

Material: aramid (p-aramids)
Brand names: Kevlar®, Technora®, Twaron®
Density (specific weight): 1.44 kg / dm³
Buoyancy: no, not buoyant in water
Yarn strength: 20 - 25 cN / dtex
Strength reduction due to moisture: 0 %
Water absorption: 2 - 5 %
Knot strength: 30 - 40 %
Light resistance: poor; without a protective rope jacket, ropes made of aramid are unsuitable for permanent outdoor use due to their poor light resistance and the strength losses resulting from UV radiation
Elongation at break: 2 - 4 %
Abrasion resistance: sufficient
Washing temperature: 80 - 90 °C
Resistance to alkalis (lyes): partly good resistance
Resistance to acids: partly good resistance
Resistance to petrol, diesel, lubricating oil: resistant, no effect
Solvents: resistant, minor effect
Electrical properties: excellent electrical insulating capability
Temperature limit (short-term load): approx. 400 °C
Softening temperature: not applicable
Melting temperature: no melting and no dripping, chars at approx. 500 °C

Aramid is an artificial word for “aromatic polyamides”. These are a group of particularly heat-resistant and high-strength plastics. The first aramids reached market maturity in the 1970s and have since become established in more and more applications. Essentially, there are two major producers of aramids today: the chemical companies DuPont de Nemours and Teijin Aramid.

Within the aramids, three groups relevant for technical applications can be distinguished according to their chemical structure, which we have compiled in the following overview.

Overview of the different aramids

Designation	Abbreviation	Brand name at DuPont	Brand name at Teijin
Meta-aramids	m-aramid	Nomex®	Teijinconex®
Para-aramids	p-aramid	Kevlar®	Twaron®
Para-aramid copolymers	p-aramid copolymer	-	Technora®

While Nomex® and Teijinconex® have proven particularly suitable for the manufacture of fire-resistant clothing, Kevlar®, Technora® and Twaron® are very well suited for the manufacture of high-strength ropes. At Kanirope you will find ropes made from all three of the products mentioned from the two major manufacturers (see: product range overview).

Aramid has poor resistance to UV radiation. Exposure to UV radiation causes a visible discolouration of the aramid fibres from the original light yellow to a bronze-brown shade. Although the discolouration also forms a kind of protective layer, so that the inner fibres are protected, the aramid rope can nevertheless lose a great deal of strength with permanent UV exposure. This can, however, be counteracted, for example, by a protective sheath made of another material.

Aramid ropes are sensitive to kinking, and bending radii that are too small lead to a reduction in strength. Therefore, severe kinking and knots in aramid ropes should be avoided in order not to damage them or reduce their breaking load. It is recommended to maintain a minimum bending radius corresponding to 15 times the rope diameter.

Aramid fibres have a low water absorption of approx. 2 - 5 %. This means that in a humid or wet environment the fibres absorb a small amount of water. However, this does not reduce the strength of the fibres. Even a damp aramid rope holds!

The properties of the braided aramid ropes enable a very wide range of applications. Especially as a substitute for wire rope and in areas with very high ambient temperatures, ropes made of aramid are frequently used.

Below you will find examples of further uses: mechanical engineering, control cables, guy ropes, anchor lines, adjustment lines, special industrial applications, offshore installations, flight sport, paragliding, fire brigade, set construction, stage construction, theatre flying lines, model making, reinforcement material for cables, as cut protection, drive cord, cable pulling aid, pyrotechnics, fire performers, fire skipping rope, fire poi, reinforcement for fibre-optic cables or rubber materials, sports equipment, motorsport, heat protection, etc.

Kanirope® ARABRAID

The aramid rope ARABRAID is a braided cord made of 100% aramid (Twaron®). This is a para-aramid high-performance yarn. It is characterised by outstanding mechanical properties, chemical resistance and thermal stability. These properties are the result of the polymer structure of Twaron®, in which the molecular chains are predominantly aligned along the yarn filament axis. ARABRAID is available in diameters from 0.4 - 6 mm, and even the very thin cords have a high tear resistance.

Tabular overview of the aramid ropes

Diameter	Item	Breaking load	Construction	Available lengths	Colour
ø 0,4 mm	ARABRAID	45 daN (kg)	6-strand braided	500 m	Light yellow
ø 0,9 mm	ARABRAID	80 daN (kg)	6-strand braided	500 m	Light yellow
ø 1 mm	ARABRAID	100 daN (kg)	16-strand braided	100 m, 500 m	Light yellow
ø 1,5 mm	ARABRAID	135 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	500 m	Light yellow
ø 2 mm	ARABRAID	250 daN (kg)	16-strand braided	100 m, 500 m	Light yellow
ø 2,1 mm	ARABRAID	290 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	500 m	Light yellow
ø 3 mm	ARABRAID	560 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	by the meter, 100 m, 500 m	Light yellow
ø 4 mm	ARABRAID	700 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	by the meter, 100m, 500m	Light yellow
ø 5 mm	ARABRAID	1.000 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	by the meter, 100 m, 250 m	Light yellow
ø 6 mm	ARABRAID	2.000 daN (kg)	8-strand braided	by the meter, 100 m, 200 m	Light yellow

Further available ropes and cords made of aramid fibres in our range

Aramid brand	Aramid rope	Special feature	Available diameters
Kevlar®	PARABRAID	The UV-sensitive Kevlar core is protected against light exposure by a polyester sheath.	2 - 12 mm
Technora®	TECBRAID	Rope core made of Technora® in parallel arrangement for particularly high dimensional stability	3 - 5 mm

Your desired product is not listed in our online shop? We can offer you a customised solution. In this case, we have the required rope manufactured specifically according to your requirements. The prerequisite is the purchase of at least one machine set per desired variant of the product. The delivery time for these customised orders is usually approximately two to three weeks.

We happily take care of your need for manual assembly as well. We can cut the rope to the lengths you require and provide additional ropework. Decorative knots, individual splices and whippings, special packaging and labelling can also be ordered from us. These services can be provided even in large quantities.

Please feel free to send us your enquiry now! We take the time to listen to you and answer your questions. We see each individual request of our customers as a challenge which we seek to meet. Through established partnerships with selected rope manufacturers, our many years of experience, efficiency, and flexibility, we are able to deliver on that promise.