Development of a Braided Polypropylene Rope Using Polypropylene Tape Yarns

Abstract

Traditionally, braided ropes are manufactured using either staple yarns or multifilament yarns. This study therefore sought to break this traditional paradigm by uniquely and economically manufacturing braided polypropylene ropes using polypropylene tape yarns. A recipe made up of virgin polypropylene granules, calcium carbonate and black masterbatch was used to produce a polypropylene plastic sheet, which was extruded on a Barmag machine. Tape yarns with a width of 22 mm on average were produced. Count, width, thickness, elongation and tensile strength of the tape yarns used to produce the rope were tested. The elongation and tensile strength tests were done on a Micro 500 Testometric strengthtesting machine. Test results on the tape yarns revealed that they have properties that fall within the standard range of fibrillated polypropylene tape yarns. Sorptive properties of both the tape yarns used and the braided rope developed revealed a slight increase in water absorbance to approximately 0.15% compared to standard water absorbance of less than 0.1%. This increment in water absorbance, however, did not change the floating properties of both the tape yarns and the braided rope as they both remained with their positive buoyancy. Also, no signs of microbial attack were seen on
the tape yarns and the braided rope by naked eyes after exposing the samples to water. The resultant braided rope produced was made up of 12 X 4973 denier polypropylene tape yarns with a 9200-denier polypropylene bailer twine as the core. The count and diameter of the resultant rope were found to be close to those of hazard barrier and hydro-pulling ropes and were also analogous to those of 5 mm cotton braided ropes produced.