Manufacturers of wire and cable understand the importance of preventing moisture from making contact with fiber optics. Conducting a water wicking test for yarn and thread used in the manufacturing process can help with product evaluation, as well as save time and money in the long term.

Ripcords are industrial yarns located longitudinally just under the jackets that cover conductor wires in cables.

The purpose of a ripcord is to cut back the jacket to expose the wires of the cable so you don't run the risk of cutting any of the wires inside (you pull the cord, it cuts the jacket). This helps make splicing cables easier during installations.

Spending years in materials science in the tire and rubber industry, I have found large volumes of publications available on most performance aspect of cord properties (strength, elasticity, fatigue, adhesion), and when I run across something on twist I usually make a note of it. I have seen less published data and information available on the effect of twist level on textile cord properties. I have collected a few “rules of thumb” from Takeyama and Fujimoto. Recently at Hailide America Inc, we have looked at the twist effects in an industrial-grade high-tenacity polyester and have found the old tire-cord-twist rules of thumb that apply are actually inverted in the low twist region.

If you manufacture hoses, cables, or sewn products, yarn diameter or gauge is an important factor in determining what industrial yarn or thread type and construction to use.  Not to be confused with the linear density or size of the material, yarn gauge is the measured thickness of a cross section of material.

Control of static and current electricity is a crucial consideration in industrial product design. By using combinations of different polymers and coatings, industrial yarn and threads can be designed to help conduct or impede electrical charges as required for different product applications.  

Twist can impact the dynamics of your final product in many ways – strength, elongation, diameter, torque, lustre, softness etc. Unlike staple spun yarns, multifilament yarns lose strength as the twist is increased, therefore it is important to know the physical requirements required in the end product. Elongation increases with increasing twist, as does diameter, torque and lustre. Yarns become stiffer with twist therefore softness decreases. 

When setting out to find the best industrial high tenacity polyester, it's important to know and understand the key physical properties you are looking for, and to understand the units of measure being presented for each one. The table below contains a list of some of the largest polyester yarn producers in the world, as well as a list of polyester yarn specifications for specific types of their 1000 Dn (1100 dtex) high tenacity standard polyester yarns.

Dupont™ Kevlar®and other aramid yarns and threads are used in many industries including:

• high temperature fluid hose manufacturing as reinforcement
• electrical wire and cable for binding, ripcords, strength members and shielding (braided)
• composite materials- aramid fabric is used for strength and reinforcement
• ballistics, to sew proctective garmets, body armour and bullet proof vests
• rope manufacturing for added strength
• synthetic web-slings for sewing and round sling filler yarn
• mattress manufacturing for sewing tape edge seams

Most of the products made with Kevlar® and other aramid yarns require high strength and/or fire retardant characteristics. The unique nature and production processes to make aramid fibers are some reasons aramids are much more expensive than other commodity fibers like cotton, polyester and nylon. Common characteristics among Kevlar® and other Aramid fibers include:

Want to reduce yarn and thread waste and minimize backwinds and reprocessing?  We already discussed why creel design is important, and the importance of a solid frame.  The next design step is evaluating and choosing the right tension control methods.