Types Of Wire Rope
Stainless steel, galvanized or coated wire rope? Learn about these types of wire rope and choose the one that best suits your application. Read on to learn more.
Steel wire rope is made of metal wire strands woven together to form a spiral. It is commonly used in the construction, engineering, agricultural, aircraft and marine industries because of its heavy, flexible and tough properties, as well as its weather and corrosion resistance. The equal stress each strand brings throughout the bundle helps to increase its strength and flexibility, making it an ideal material for pulleys. In Australia, wire rope used to be made from cooked iron; today, the material used is primarily steel.
Different industries use different types of wire rope. This is because the suitability of a particular wire rope for an application depends on the design, size, type of braid and other characteristics. For example, marine grade 316 steel wire rope is suitable for a variety of marine applications and settings.
The three main types are stainless steel, galvanized, and coated wire rope.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is the standard alloy used for ropes and cables. Its corrosion resistance is much higher than galvanized and coated ropes, although there is no difference in strength. Therefore, it is the material of choice for the marine and saltwater industries. It does not react easily with chemicals in food processing, textile and photographic environments. Its high corrosion resistance, heat and cold resistance, resistance to pulp and paper chemicals make stainless steel wire rope a very important material in the manufacture of precision instruments, automobiles, fishing boats, petrochemical equipment and other fields.
Galvanized steel wire rope
Galvanized wire rope is also a wire material that has been galvanized to enhance its corrosion resistance. The finished wire product is dipped into a zinc bath to give it an overall coating, known as galvanizing. Zinc is used in the process because cathodic protection increases the life expectancy of the wire. Although the coating wears off over time, it remains resistant to rust, corrosion and other harsh chemicals. Galvanized wire is used in industrial and construction applications as well as in agriculture and DIY projects.
Coated Wire Rope
Stainless steel and galvanized wire can be coated with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or vinyl. Coated wire rope is available in a variety of colors such as clear, black, white or any other color required by different industries. PVC coated wire is flexible, weather resistant and very cost effective. Nylon coated wire is not as flexible as PVC, but is hard wearing and ideal for businesses in extremely cold regions. Wire rope can be assembled to suit specific applications. If your project requires a specific type of wire rope, please send us an inquiry and we will send you a special quotation.