Naomi Judd
The first climbing ropes were made of natural fibers like sisal and manila, but today they are made of much stronger material. Nylon ropes were developed during World War II by DuPont scientist Wallace Carothers, enabling climbers to embark on bigger, more daring climbs with better protection.
Early Ropes
Early nylon ropes were made of a "twisted" or "laid" construction, in which small nylon filaments were bunched into four or five strands and then twisted together to make the rope. These ropes are made of drawn nylon yarns, which means fibers are strengthened and stiffened while the semi-crystaline molecules of the nylon become stretched. Heat is used for this process.
Today's Standard
Today's standard is kernmantle ropes, which are specifically designed for climbing. Kernmantle ropes are made of two parts: the core and sheath. Standard dynamic ropes are 11 mm in diameter and 50 meters (165 feet) long, with a stretch of 6 to 7 percent (of its length). Climbing ropes are commonly made in diameters of 8mm to 12mm.
Core
The inside of kernmantle rope is made of braided or parallel nylon filaments. These form the core and make up approximately 70 percent of a rope's diameter.
Sheath
The outside of kernmantle rope (the sheath) is made of smoother, colored nylon strands that are woven. This construction allows offers more stretch.
Static and Dynamic
Nylon ropes not constructed in a kernmantle design are not suitable for climbing and are called static ropes because they do not stretch. All nylon ropes used for climbing are called dynamic because they stretch.
About The Author
Naomi Judd, CIG, has been a writer for six years and been published in Tidal Echoes, Centripetal, The Capital City Weekly and Northwest.com. She has a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree in adventure writing from Plymouth State University and is currently earning an Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Eastern Washington University.
