Rope comprising at least one fibrillated film tape

Abstract

A process for producing a high strength rope comprising the step of i) providing a uniaxially oriented tape ( 10 ) comprising ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the tape ( 10 ) having a tensile strength of at least 0.9 GPa, and ii) simultaneously twisting and fibrillating the tape ( 10 ) into a twisted strand of fibrillated tape with a coherent network of filaments and fibrils. A rope obtainable by the process and products comprising the rope are also disclosed.

1 . Process for production of a high tensile strength rope comprising the step of providing an uniaxially oriented tape comprising ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the tape having a tensile strength of at least 0.9 GPa as measured in accordance with ISO 1184(H), and simultaneously twisting and fibrillating the tape into a twisted strand of fibrillated tape with a coherent network of filaments and fibrils. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  characterized in that the twist level of the twisted strand of fibrillated tape is in the range from 1 to 100 turns per meter. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  characterized in that the linear density of the tape is between 400 and 200,000 dtex. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  characterized in that the tape has an areal density of between 2 and 200 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The process of claim characterized in that the tape has a tensile strength of at least 1.2 GPa, preferably 1.5 GPa. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of braiding, laying, twisting or bundling into a rope at least one of said twisted strands comprising the fibrillated tape. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the uniaxially oriented tape is provided from a package. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7  characterized in that the unwinding is performed by pulling off the tape over-head from a stationary package. 
     
     
         9 . A rope obtainable by a process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The rope of  claim 9  comprising at least one strand wherein said strand comprises a fibrillated tape having a tensile strength before fibrillation of at least 0.9 GPa as measured in accordance with ISO 1184(H) wherein the fibrillated tape comprises a coherent network of filaments and fibrils. 
     
     
         11 . The rope of  claim 9  characterized in that it comprises more than one strand comprising a fibrillated tape. 
     
     
         12 . The rope according to  claim 9  characterized in that the rope is of a braided construction. 
     
     
         13 . The rope according to  claim 9  characterized in that at least one strand is a braided rope. 
     
     
         14 . A product comprising any one of the ropes according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 14 , wherein the product is chosen from the group consisting of mooring lines, towing lines, lifting ropes, off-shore ropes, fishing lines, fishing nets, cargo nets, cargo curtains, belts, woven fabrics, raschels and slings.