Resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope
A resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope includes a plurality of tows disposed in a bundle, each of the plurality of tows including a plurality of structural fibers, and uncured polymeric resin impregnated into the bundle. Each of the plurality of structural fibers defines an angle with respect to a central axis of the rope of no more than about 10 degrees.
1. A resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, comprising:
a plurality of tows disposed in a bundle, each of the plurality of tows including a plurality of structural fibers; and
uncured polymeric resin impregnated into the bundle;
wherein each of the plurality of structural fibers defines an angle with respect to a central axis of the rope of no more than about 10 degrees; and
wherein the plurality of tows are twisted about one another.
2. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of structural fibers defines an angle with respect to a central axis of the rope of no more than about 5 degrees.
3. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers of each of the plurality of tows are twisted about one another.
4. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 3 , wherein the fibers of each of the plurality of tows are twisted about one another in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the rope.
5. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polymer, a thermosetting polymer, and a liquid crystal polymer.
6. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an epoxy polymer, a polyamide-imide polymer, a polyaryletherketone polymer, a polyetheretherketone polymer, a polyimide polymer, a polyphenylene sulfide polymer, a polyester polymer, and a vinyl ester polymer.
7. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the rope exhibits a generally round shape in cross-section.
8. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the rope exhibits a diameter of less than about 2 millimeters.
9. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the rope exhibits a diameter within a range of about 0.7 millimeters to about 1.6 millimeters.
10. The resin-impregnated, structural fiber rope, according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structural fiber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, graphite fibers, glass fibers, and aramid fibers.