HMPE ROPES
High Coefficient of Friction Plasma Lines
12 Strand Plasma HMPE ropes are the strongest commercial ropes available. HMPE rope is made from High Modulus Polyethylene which is a material that is composed of extraordinarily long molecular chains of polyethylene. In the 1950's the cordage industry began using HMPE and gel spinning it into high molecular weight polyethylene fibers and yarns for rope and cord making. HMPE ropes are very tough, stronger than steel, and have the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made.
This Plasma HiCo 12 Strand line retains all of the features and benefits of standard Plasma ropes with the added characteristic of an increased coefficient of friction coating to allow for better gripping in applications such as H-Bitt or capstan rendering, and traction winch systems.
High performance ropes that are stronger than steel
HMPE rope has an extremely low density and it has a strength-to-weight ratio that is 8 time higher than high strength steel! The molecular alignment and gel spinning process allows the fibers to perform better and is the reason plasma-based ropes, soft shackles and winch lines float, whereas steel wire sinks.
Plasma® Ropes used for different products
HMPE is an amazing material and it is used to make artificial joints, body armor, high pressure hydraulic joints and seals and of course synthetic ropes, cords and lines for a variety of industries.
Shipping Industry
- Offshore Working & Lifting Lines
- Tug Boat & Salvage Ship Lines
- Inland River Boat Lines
- Ship & Barge Mooring Lines
Mining Tow Lines
Utility Pulling Lines & Cable Grips
Utility & RV Winch Lines
Theatrical Rigging Lines
Commercial Fishing Lines
Benefits and Features of Plasma HiCo 12 Strand HMPE ROPE
- Plasma HiCo HMPE has the lowest stretch of any rope available
- Low creep
- Soft hand
- Torque free
- Easy splicing
- Neutrally buoyant in water - it floats
- Sizes of Plasma® HiCo 12 strand HMPE ropes that are ABS & DNV type approved:
- 7/16-inch
- 1/2-inch
- 9/16-inch
- 5/8-inch
- 3/4-inch
- 13/16-inch
- 7/8-inch
- 1-inch
- 1-1/16-inch
- 1-1/8-inch
- 1-1/4-inch
- 1-5/16-inch
- 1-1/2-inch
Plasma® HiCo 12 strand is the highest strength synthetic rope available. Plasma® HiCo 12 strand is manufactured from High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) that has been enhanced by a recrystallization process.
Plasma® HiCo 12 strand is delivered standard with a polyurethane finish and is easily spliced using a simple lockstitch type splice, 4-3-2 or 5-4-3 tuck splice. It's soft, torque free braided construction provides easy handling.
Read this great article about HMPE Ropes and discover more.
High Modulus Polyethylene Elasticity
HMPE fibers are very inelastic, they do not stretch much at all. After a rope is braided and spliced, there is typically a "constructional stretch" as the rope is loaded past 40% MTS for the first time, which can lead to up to 5% elongation. Once this constructional stretch has been removed, there will be virtually no stretch in an HMPE rope.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Durability
HMPE ropes are extraordinarily durable. HMPE also has a low coefficient of friction, which means it has excellent wear properties and can have a slippery feel. As with all rope, HMPE line can be susceptible to cutting if put under tension while on a sharp edge.
Tech Sheet - Plasma HiCo 12 Strand
| Nominal Dia. (mm) | Nominal Dia. (in) |
Rope Circ. |
Approx Weight lbs./100 ft |
Approx Weight kg / 100m |
Min Tensile Strength Spliced Rope (lbs.) |
Min Tensile Strength Spliced Rope MT (tonnes) |
Min Tensile Strength ISO Unspliced Rope (lbs.) |
Min Tensile Strength ISO Unspliced Rope MT (tonnes) |
| 1 mm | 0.04" | 0.12" | 0.05 | 0.1 | 270 | 0.1 | 300 | 0.13 |
| 1.25 mm | 0.05" | 0.15" | 0.07 | 0.1 | 390 | 0.2 | 430 | 0.20 |
| 1.5 mm | 0.06" | 0.18" | 0.1 | 0.1 | 475 | 0.2 | 525 | 0.23 |
| 1.75 mm | 0.07" | 0.21" | 0.14 | 0.2 | 750 | 0.3 | 830 | 0.38 |
| 2.5 mm | 0.1" | 0.3" | 0.27 | 0.4 | 1,400 | 0.6 | 1,550 | 0.7 |
| 3 mm | 1/8" | 3/8" | 0.54 | 0.8 | 2,800 | 1.3 | 3,100 | 1.4 |
| 5 mm | 3/16" | 9/16" | 1.12 | 1.7 | 5,500 | 2.5 | 6,100 | 2.8 |
| 6 mm | 1/4" | 3/4" | 1.6 | 2.4 | 8,000 | 3.6 | 8,890 | 4.0 |
| 8 mm | 5/16" | 15/16" | 2.5 | 3.7 | 11,700 | 5.3 | 13,000 | 5.9 |
| 9 mm | 3/8" | 1-1/8" | 3.7 | 5.5 | 17,500 | 7.9 | 19,400 | 8.8 |
| 11 mm | 7/16" | 1-1/4" | 4.2 | 6.3 | 21,000 | 9.5 | 23,400 | 10.6 |
| 12 mm | 1/2" | 1-1/2" | 6.4 | 9.5 | 31,300 | 14.2 | 34,800 | 15.8 |
| 14 mm | 9/16" | 1-3/4" | 7.9 | 11.8 | 37,900 | 17.2 | 42,100 | 19.1 |
| 16 mm | 5/8" | 2" | 10.6 | 15.8 | 51,400 | 23.3 | 57,100 | 25.9 |
| 18 mm | 3/4" | 2-1/4" | 13.3 | 19.8 | 68,500 | 31.1 | 76,300 | 34.6 |
| 20 mm | 13/16" | 2-1/2" | 15.9 | 23.7 | 74,000 | 33.6 | 82,200 | 37.2 |
| 22 mm | 7/8" | 2-3/4" | 19.6 | 29.2 | 92,600 | 42.0 | 102,900 | 46.7 |
| 24 mm | 1" | 3" | 23.4 | 34.8 | 110,000 | 49.9 | 122,100 | 55.4 |
| 26 mm | 1-1/16" | 3-1/4" | 27.5 | 40.9 | 129,200 | 58.6 | 143,500 | 65.1 |
| 28 mm | 1-1/8" | 3-1/2" | 31.9 | 47.5 | 147,000 | 66.7 | 163,300 | 74.1 |
| 30 mm | 1-1/4" | 3-3/4" | 36.2 | 53.9 | 165,000 | 74.9 | 183,300 | 83.1 |
| 32 mm | 1-5/16" | 4" | 41.7 | 62.1 | 196,000 | 88.9 | 217,800 | 98.8 |
| 36 mm | 1-1/2" | 4-1/2" | 51.7 | 76.9 | 221,000 | 100.3 | 245,500 | 111.3 |
