Nylon and Ropes for Mountaineering and Caving

Club Alpino Italiano, Commissione Materiali e Tecniche

Turin, 8-9 March 2002

Nylon, its synthesis and properties

The history of nylon - L. Trossarelli (Turin University)

Synthesis and properties of nylons - L. Costa , P. Bracco (Turin Univ. and CAI)

Water diffusion in polyamides - S. Cotugno (Naples University)

Fracture of nylon fibres - K. Jacobson (Stockholm University)

Production and treatments of nylon fibres

Polyamide 6, the right raw material for ropes - E. Ernst (Rhodia)

Production of high tenacity nylon for ropes - A. Yilmaz. (Kordsa - Dupont))

Rope Manufacture

Marine rope technology : a glossary of terms – G. Pignataro (Italian Navy Lab.)

The perfect dynamic rope, production and use - R. Karrer. (Mammut)

Notes on static ropes – M. Beal (Beal)

Effets of manufacturing techniques on rope performance - M. Beal (Beal)

Materials for mountaineering ropes, from the past to new ideas – E. Kurzböck

Present and future in rope making technologies   - ( PowerPoint presentation ) - R. Faborsky (Singing Rock)

Rope characterisation and environmental effects.

Chemical and physical characterisation of ropes – G. Casassa (Perkin Elmer )

E ffects of water/ice and UV on rope performance - G. Signoretti (CAI)

Effectiveness of dry coating on water absorption – ( documentation ) - B. Fronzaglia (New Englan Ropes)

Mysterious rope breakages – P. Schubert (UIAA)

Rope performance.

Rope wear in climbing and in laboratory . - ( PowerPoint presentation ) - G. Bressan (CAI)

The Effect of Heat Glazing on the Strength and Extensibility Properties of Polyamide Climbing Ropes   – M. Taylor (Leeds University)

Snapping of ropes - L Contri and S. Secchi (Padova University)

Rope models – A. Manes (CAI)

Safety loss of mountaineering ropes by lowering cycles in toprope climbing - Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Vogel (Stuttgart University)

Analysis of dynamic belay

Mathematical computer models of belaying – V. Bedogni (CAI)

Development of testing equipment: Dodero, machine for artificial rope wear, machine for low-speed testing

Mechanics – P. Casavola and C. Zanantoni (CAI)

Sharp edge testing of mountaneering ropes -  O. Henkel (Mammut)

Sharp edge testing Status and prospects -  C. Zanantoni (CAI)