[TowerTalk] Phillystran, etc

[Stan Stockton]

Interested to know whether anyone has experience using High Modulus Polyethylene (also known as Spectra) rope for guying towers?  Apparently the material is stronger than Kevlar, is UV stable, etc.

>From Phillystran website the description of the material is:

Phillystran high modulus polyethylene fiber ropes (PSPE) have been engineered for applications where lightweight, high strength and good abrasion resistance is important. Phillystran PSPE ropes are general purpose working ropes manufactured in a 7x19 construction with an overall braided polyester jacket. Typical applications where PSPE ropes should be considered are winch lines, mooring lines and towing lines.

The quarter inch material is listed on Phillystran's website as 7700 pound breaking strength - stronger than 1/4" EHS? - and the 3/8" is listed as 15,000 pounds.  Lots of companies make it and from what I can tell the price is very attractive.  One company said for an extra six cents per foot it would have a black polyurethane coating for the purpose of shedding water.

Stan, K5GO