TABLE 1. MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF PRINCIPAL CABLE MATERIALS 



Material 



Composition 



Applications 



Advantages 



Disadvantages 



Comments 



Blue center steel 



Finest quality im- 

 proved plow steel 



Fabricated into ropes for 

 uses requiring optimum 

 strength, toughness and 

 uniformity 



Can withstand heavy loads, 

 severe abrasion, shock, and 

 vibration 





All cables should be prop- 

 erly lubricated before 

 immersion and carefully 

 rinsed with fresh water 

 after using in sea water 



Plow steel 





Steel ropes 



High strength; unusual 

 toughness 





Advantages exceeded only 

 by those of blue center 

 grade 



Traction steel 





Designed especially for 

 elevator cables 



High resistance to bending 

 fatigue; shows minimum 

 wear over sheaves and 

 drums 





Is of exceptionally high 

 quality 



Iron ropes 



Low carbon steel 









Low in strength compared 

 to other steel grades 



Stainless steel 



18 chromium, 8 

 nickel 



Principally used for wire 

 ropes in marine and air- 

 craft applications and in 

 industrial uses where 

 excessive environments 

 are to be encountered 



Corrosion resistant when 

 material is properly chosen 

 and treated for expected 

 environment 



Inferior to carbon steel in 

 stress fatigue 



Recommended for situa- 

 tions requiring frequent 

 submersion and removal 

 rather than continuous 

 submersion 



Phosphor bronze 

 rope 



Tin-copper alloy 



Used mainly when loads 

 are light 



Effectively resists certain 

 types of corrosion; is 

 nonmagnetic 



Has little resistance to 

 abrasion; low fatigue 

 life 





