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UHMWPE Braided Rope

UHMWPE braided rope from Lift Sling Rigging Co., Ltd is built from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibre - known in the rope industry as HMPE - braided rather than twisted into a torque-free 12-strand rope. Fibre and rope manufacturers rate this material at up to 15 times the strength of steel wire of the same weight, and because its specific gravity is only 0.97 the finished rope floats. We manufacture it in diameters from 6 mm to 96 mm in our Taizhou, Jiangsu facility, with bare, PU-coated and overbraided options, spliced eyes and thimbles, and custom colours, for mooring, towing, winching, offshore, fishing, cable pulling and lifting duty.

What Is UHMWPE Braided Rope?

UHMWPE stands for ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a gel-spun polyethylene fibre with an extremely long molecular chain. In the rope trade the same fibre family is normally called HMPE - high modulus polyethylene - and the two abbreviations describe the same material. If a supplier quotes you an HMPE rope, you are being offered a UHMWPE rope.

UHMWPE rope is braided, not twisted. An 8-strand or 12-strand braid is torque-free: it does not rotate or hockle when it comes under load, which is why it is the preferred construction for winch lines, single-point mooring and any application where the rope has to run over a sheave. The braided structure also splices easily into a smooth, high-efficiency eye.

Compared with nylon and polyester, UHMWPE has very low stretch, so it transmits load almost immediately instead of absorbing it. That makes it the right material when position must be held and the wrong material when shock absorption is the requirement. If your application needs elasticity - anchor lines, for example - see our double braided nylon rope instead.

Construction and Manufacturing

• Fibre: gel-spun ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE / HMPE), high-modulus grades.
• Construction: 8-strand or 12-strand braid; also supplied as 12x12 strand for the largest diameters and as a composite double braid with a braided polyester cover.
• Bare or covered: bare HMPE braid, or an HMPE core under a braided polyester jacket for extra abrasion protection on winch drums and fairleads.
• Torque-free: the braided construction does not rotate, kink or hockle under load.
• Spliceable: a 12-strand HMPE rope splices easily into a self-locking eye with no loss of flexibility.
• Floats: specific gravity 0.97, so the rope floats and its strength is not affected by water.
• Size range: 6 mm to 96 mm diameter, cut to any length on request.

Key Features

• Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any rope fibre. A 12 mm 12-strand UHMWPE rope has a minimum breaking strength of about 139 kN, roughly four times that of a nylon double braid rope of the same diameter and similar weight per metre.
• Very low stretch. Elongation at break is in the order of 2 percent to 5 percent, so load is transmitted almost immediately and position is held - ideal for winching, pulling and static mooring.
• Floats on water and does not absorb it. Water absorption is nil, so the rope stays workable and its strength is unaffected by immersion.
• Chemically inert. Resists acids, alkalis, solvents and salt water, and needs no grease or corrosion protection.
• Excellent abrasion resistance. Superior wet and dry abrasion performance gives a long service life on deck and at wear points.
• Light and easy to handle. Approximately eight times lighter than steel wire rope of the same breaking strength, which reduces crew fatigue and handling risk.

Limitations You Should Know

We would rather you specify the right rope than the wrong one, so here is where UHMWPE is not the answer:

• Creep. Under a constant sustained load UHMWPE creeps - the rope slowly elongates over time. Recent fibre generations have improved this considerably, but for permanent static installations the creep must be designed for, or a different fibre selected.
• Low melting point and a low service ceiling. The fibre melts at roughly 135 C to 152 C, and the practical continuous service limit is far lower - around 65 C. Friction heat - a rope running fast over a winch drum or a seized sheave - can permanently damage it. Keep it clear of hot surfaces and inspect the rope after any high-speed run. For hot duty, use our high temperature resistant rope.
• It is slippery. UHMWPE has a very low coefficient of friction, so knots will not hold reliably. Always specify a spliced eye; do not rely on a knot.
• Higher initial cost. The price per metre is above nylon or polyester. In exchange, the strength-to-weight ratio and service life are in a different class, and there is no corrosion protection to maintain.

Applications

UHMWPE braided rope is specified wherever low weight, low stretch and high strength matter at the same time:

• Mooring lines and single-point mooring hawsers where weight and deck space are limited.
• Tow lines, winch lines and recovery ropes for marine and off-road use.
• Offshore and heavy-lift rigging, and general pulling duty.
• Cable pulling, cable laying and cable pulling rope assemblies for utility and construction work.
• Commercial fishing: purse seine, trawl and net ropes.
• Lifting and utility duty where light weight and low stretch reduce handling effort - see also our large tonnage hoisting rope.

12 Strand UHMWPE Braided Rope - Breaking Strength and Working Load

The table below gives the typical linear density, minimum breaking strength and reference working load of 12-strand UHMWPE braided rope by diameter. Working load is shown at a 5:1 safety factor, that is, one fifth of the minimum breaking strength. Figures are reference values for new rope: breaking strength varies with fibre grade, strand count and construction, and must be confirmed against the test report of the batch supplied.

Reference values for new, unused rope. Age, wear, sunlight exposure, splices and heat exposure will further reduce these figures. Other diameters and lengths are available on request.

UHMWPE Rope Compared with Nylon Rope

Both ropes are sold by diameter, but they are chosen for opposite reasons.

The two diameters quoted are adjacent rather than identical because the published diameter steps of the two data sources do not align. Send us your load case and we will compare like with like.

Customisation and Options

• Diameter: 6 mm to 96 mm as standard, other sizes on request.
• Colour: white, black, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, or to your colour reference.
• Length: standard coils or cut to your required length.
• Terminations: bare ends, hand-spliced soft eye, thimble eye, or with hook - all fitted in our own workshop.
• Finish: bare HMPE, PU coated, or HMPE core with a braided polyester overbraid for winch duty.
• Branding: private label, custom packing and OEM production.

Quality Control and Standards

Our UHMWPE ropes are produced and tested against the following standards:

• GB/T 30668 - Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibre 8-strand, 12-strand braided ropes and covered ropes, the Chinese national standard for this product family.
• GB/T 21328 - Fibre ropes, general specification (equivalent to ISO 9554).
• GB/T 8834 - Determination of certain physical and mechanical properties of fibre ropes (equivalent to ISO 2307).
• ISO 10325 - Fibre ropes, high modulus polyethylene (HMPE), 8-strand, 12-strand and covered ropes, the international equivalent of GB/T 30668.

Batch test reports can be supplied on request, and third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TUV or your nominated agency) can be arranged before shipment.

Packaging and Delivery

• Coils in woven bags, cartons or on pallets, to your packing requirement.
• Standard export packing with shipping marks to your instruction.

Send us your specification and we will confirm the current minimum order quantity, lead time and price for your diameter, length, colour and termination combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is UHMWPE rope the same as HMPE rope?

Yes. UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) is the material name, and HMPE (high modulus polyethylene) is the name the rope industry uses for the same family of gel-spun polyethylene fibre. An HMPE rope is a UHMWPE rope.

Is UHMWPE braided rope stronger than steel wire rope?

By weight, yes - fibre and rope manufacturers rate UHMWPE fibre at up to 15 times the strength of steel wire of the same weight, and a UHMWPE rope needs no corrosion protection. By diameter the comparison depends on the wire rope construction, so send us the load and the working length and we will compare the two for your case.

Does UHMWPE rope float?

Yes. Its specific gravity is 0.97, below that of water, so it floats and does not lose strength when wet.

Can I tie a knot in UHMWPE rope?

We do not recommend it. UHMWPE has a very low coefficient of friction, so knots slip and can work loose under load. Specify the rope with a spliced eye, or splice it yourself - a 12-strand braid splices easily into a self-locking eye. We also supply related assemblies such as fully braided seamless endless nylon rope and eye-to-eye hitch cord.

What is the maximum working temperature?

UHMWPE has a low melting point, about 135 C to 152 C, and the practical continuous service limit is lower still, around 65 C, so it is not a heat-resistant rope. Avoid hot surfaces, and inspect the rope after any run in which friction may have generated heat. For hot duty, our high temperature resistant rope is the better choice.

What safety factor do your working loads use?

The working loads in the table above are calculated at a 5:1 safety factor. For overhead lifting or personnel-related applications a higher factor is normally required - tell us the application and we will specify accordingly.

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