Parachute cord

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A 10 ft (3.0 m) coil of commercial parachute cord Paracord-Commercial-Type-III-Coil.jpg
A 10 ft (3.0 m) coil of commercial parachute cord
The sheath of this commercial parachute cord is braided from 32 strands and the core made up of seven two-ply yarns. Paracord-Commercial-Type-III-Inch-Scale.jpg
The sheath of this commercial parachute cord is braided from 32 strands and the core made up of seven two-ply yarns.
Genuine MIL-SPEC MIL-C-5040 Type III Paracord has 7 inner cords each made up of 3 strands. MIL-C-5040 Type III 550 Paracord.jpg
Genuine MIL-SPEC MIL-C-5040 Type III Paracord has 7 inner cords each made up of 3 strands.

Parachute cord (also paracord or 550 cord when referring to type-III paracord) is a lightweight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes. This cord is now used as a general purpose utility cord. This versatile cord was used by astronauts during the 82nd Space Shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. [1]

Contents

The braided sheath is usually made up of 32 interwoven strands, [2] giving it a relatively smooth texture. The all-nylon construction makes paracord somewhat elastic.

Current technical standards for the manufacture of cord for use in parachutes are published by the Parachute Industry Association. The now inactivated US military standard MIL-C-5040H required the material to be nylon. [3] Similar styles of cord are manufactured with other materials such as polyester. [4]

Usage

Historically associated with airborne units and divisions, paracord is not used as cordage for modern "square" parachutes. However, it continues to be used by many military units in almost any situation where light cordage is needed. Typical uses include attaching equipment to harnesses, as dummy cords to avoid losing small or important items, tying rucksacks to vehicle racks, securing camouflage nets to trees or vehicles, and so forth. When threaded with beads, paracord may be used as a pace counter to estimate ground covered by foot.

The yarns of the core (commonly referred to as "the guts") can also be removed when finer string is needed, for instance as sewing thread to repair gear, or to be used as fishing line in a survival situation. For applications requiring a thinner or less elastic cord, such as shoelaces, users often remove the yarn in the core and use the nylon sheath alone. The ends of the cord can be melted and/or crimped to prevent fraying.

Patented SurvivorCord (MIL-SPEC 550 Paracord, with integrated fishing line, fire-starter, and snare wire.) SurvivorCord Strands.tif
Patented SurvivorCord (MIL-SPEC 550 Paracord, with integrated fishing line, fire-starter, and snare wire.)

There are also modern versions of parachute cord that include non-traditional survival strands within the core such as fishing line, fire tinder, and even snare wire. [5]

A typical 550 cord bracelet. 550Cord Bracelet.JPG
A typical 550 cord bracelet.

In addition to purely utility functions, paracord can be used to fashion knotted or braided bracelets, lanyards, belts, and other decorative items. These are sometimes tied in a fashion that can easily be unraveled for use in a survival situation. Some companies use paracord in conjunction with other survival components to create everyday wearable survival kits. [6]

The same properties which soldiers appreciate in paracord are also useful in civilian applications. After World War II parachute cord became available to civilians, first as military surplus [7] and then as a common retail product from various surplus stores and websites. A given product labelled as paracord may not correspond to a specific military type and can be of differing construction, quality, color, or strength. Particularly poor quality examples may have fewer strands in the sheath or core, have cores constructed of bulk fiber rather than individual yarns, or include materials other than nylon.

Paracord has also been used for whipmaking. The durability and versatility of this material has proved beneficial for performing whip crackers and enthusiasts. Since nylon does not rot or mildew, it has become known as an all-weather material for whipmaking.

A brown nylon bullwhip Brown Nylon Bullwhip.jpg
A brown nylon bullwhip

Hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts sometimes use "survival bracelets [8] " made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact and wearable form. Such bracelets are meant to be unraveled when one needs rope for whatever purpose — securing cargo, lashing together poles, fixing broken straps or belts, or assisting with water rescues. Young survivalists, such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, are also taught the importance of using the paracord as a survival tool. [9] On the other hand, the paracord is a poor choice for an emergency tourniquet as its small diameter will crush tissue without applying the needed pressure to stop bleeding.

Another use of parachute cord is in the stringing of mallet percussion instruments, such the xylophone, marimba, or vibraphone.

A very similar usage niche is nylon webbing, a strong, economical fabric woven as a flat strip or tube, also often used in place of rope.

Additional uses for parachute cord are in the manufacture of items such as lanyards, belts, dog leashes, rosaries, and key chains. This is becoming more popular as crafters are discovering this material. [10]

A decorative paracord knotting technique Mystical Chained Endless Falls.jpg
A decorative paracord knotting technique

Types

US military issue paracord was purchased with reference to a technical standard MIL-C-5040H, which was inactivated in 1997. This standard described six types: I, IA, II, IIA, III, IV. [3]

The core (also known as the kern) consists of several yarns, the number is determined by the cord type, and each yarn is made up of two or three (commercial) or three (MIL-Spec) smaller nylon fibers twisted together. Types IA and IIA differ from their type I and II counterparts in that they have no core. Type III, a type commonly found in use, is nominally rated with a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds-force (2,400  N ), thus the nickname "550 cord". All six types are specified to have a minimum elongation of 30%. [11]

The US military specification for paracord gives strength and construction parameters to which the final product must conform, as well as requirements for packaging and marking. Although the standard contains specific denier figures for the sheath strands and inner yarns, there are no overall diameter requirements for the cord itself. Below is a table of selected elements from the specification. [12]

TypeMinimum strengthMinimum elongationMinimum length per pound of cordCore yarnsSheath structure
I95 pounds (43 kg)30%950 feet per pound (640 m/kg)116/1
IA100 pounds (45 kg)30%1,050 feet per pound (710 m/kg)<no core>16/1
II400 pounds (180 kg)30%265 feet per pound (178 m/kg)4 to 732/1 or 36/1
IIA225 pounds (102 kg)30%495 feet per pound (333 m/kg)<no core>32/1 or 36/1
III550 pounds (250 kg)30%225 feet per pound (151 m/kg)7 to 932/1 or 36/1
IV750 pounds (340 kg)30%165 feet per pound (111 m/kg)1132/1, 36/1, or 44/1

Thickness

Military-specification type III cord may be slightly thicker than commercial grade due to it often requiring three nylon fibers per inner core as opposed to the two fibers per core of the commercial version. Military cord will be closer to a 4 millimetres (532 in) thickness, whereas commercial versions are closer to a 3 millimetres (18 in) thickness. This will also vary if the Type III uses 7, 8, or 9 inner cores. The most common on the commercial market is seven cores. [13] While the US military has no overall diameter requirements in its specifications, in the field, Type III cord typically measures 532 inch (4 mm) in diameter.

Colors

The inactivated military standard only describes sheath colors as natural or olive drab ("camouflage green"). However, commercially many dozens of different and variable colors are available ranging from simple colors such as blue, green, brown, and black to more intricate colors such as multi colored, camouflage, and neon variations. Paracord has also been made in special zombie patterns, light reflective, color-shifting, and glow in the dark. [3]

Manufacture

The inactivated specification describes the requirements for the manufacture of compliant cords. The fibers for the outer sheath must be colored using an approved dye; the dye cannot compromise the structure of the fibers or the finished product. The undyed fibers are twisted tightly to make the inner yarns: 3 bundles of fiber per core yarn. The sheath is then plaited over the yarns. The number of yarns are determined by cord type; type III would have 7-9 yarns. The cord is steamed to tighten the cord. This step is crucial for parachute use since the extra bit of stretch helps absorb the shock when the parachute is deployed. [3]

Manufacturer markings

The inactivated military standard referred to a color code used to identify the manufacturers of the cord. Manufacturers would insert several dyed strands, using a code assigned in MIL STD 905 (also inactivated) to identify themselves. This was so that in the event of cord failure it would be possible to find the source of the sub-par cordage. Type 1A cord and Type 2A cord would have the marking fibers on the sheath since they contain no inner yarns. Types 1, III and IV would have yarns containing the marking color. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nylon</span> Early synthetic polymer developed as a textile fiber

Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers with amide backbones, usually linking aliphatic or semi-aromatic groups.

A whipping knot or whipping is a binding of marline twine or whipcord around the end of a rope to prevent its natural tendency to fray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rope</span> Length of braided strands

A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, string, and twine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webbing</span> Strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube used instead of rope

Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile component used in climbing, slacklining, furniture manufacturing, automobile safety, auto racing, towing, parachuting, military apparel, load securing, and many other fields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanyard</span> Necklace used to hold ID cards or other items

A lanyard is a length of cord, webbing, or strap that may serve any of various functions, which include a means of attachment, restraint, retrieval, activation, and deactivation. A lanyard is also a piece of rigging used to secure or lower objects aboard a ship.

Kernmantle rope is rope constructed with its interior core protected by a woven exterior sheath designed to optimize strength, durability, and flexibility. The core fibers provide the tensile strength of the rope, while the sheath protects the core from abrasion during use. This is the only construction of rope that is considered to be life safety rope by most fire and rescue services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metallic fiber</span> Thread wholly or partly made from metal

Metallic fibers are manufactured fibers composed of metal, metallic alloys, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic, or a core completely covered by metal.

A United States defense standard, often called a military standard, "MIL-STD", "MIL-SPEC", or (informally) "MilSpecs", is used to help achieve standardization objectives by the U.S. Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballistic nylon</span> Thick, tough, nylon fabric

Ballistic nylon is a thick, tough, nylon fabric with several uses. Ballistic nylon was developed by the DuPont corporation as a material for flak jackets to be worn by World War II airmen. The term ballistic nylon originates in the fabric's intended function, protecting its wearers from flying debris and fragmentation caused by bullet and artillery-shell impacts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reticular fiber</span> Type of connective tissue in animals

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girth (tack)</span> Strap used to keep the saddle in place on a horse

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bungee cord</span> Type of elastic cord

A bungee cord is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath. The sheath does not materially extend elastically, but it is braided with its strands spiraling around the core so that a longitudinal pull causes it to squeeze the core, transmitting the core's elastic compression to the longitudinal extension of the sheath and cord. Specialized bungees, such as some used in bungee jumping, may be made entirely of elastic strands.

The manufacture of textiles is one of the oldest of human technologies. To make textiles, the first requirement is a source of fiber from which a yarn can be made, primarily by spinning. The yarn is processed by knitting or weaving, which turns yarn into cloth. The machine used for weaving is the loom. For decoration, the process of colouring yarn or the finished material is dyeing. For more information of the various steps, see textile manufacturing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Novelty yarns</span> Any yarn with special effects introduced in spinning or plying

Novelty yarns include a wide variety of yarns made with unusual features, structure or fiber composition such as slubs, inclusions, metallic or synthetic fibers, laddering and varying thickness introduced during production. Some linens, wools to be woven into tweed, and the uneven filaments of some types of silk are allowed to retain their normal irregularities, producing the characteristic uneven surface of the finished fabric. Man-made fibres, which can be modified during production, are especially adaptable for special effects such as crimping and texturizing.

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Hemp jewelry uses hemp twine material which is made from the Cannabis sativa plant, otherwise known as “Common Hemp”, which is cultivated to make goods such as food, fuel, clothing and textiles, cosmetics, paints, paper, building materials, and plastics, among others. Some types of hemp jewelry include bracelets, necklaces, anklets, rings, watches, masks, purses, and other adornments. The jewelry can also make use of other materials, such as glass, wood, bones, rocks, or gems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thread (yarn)</span> Type of yarn used for sewing

A thread is a long strand of material, often composed of several filaments or fibres, used for joining, creating or decorating textiles. Ancient Egyptians were known for creating thread using plant fibers, wool and hair. Today, thread can also be made of many different materials including but not limited to cotton, wool, linen, nylon, silk, polyester etc. There are also metal threads, which can be made of fine wire.

A fiber-optic patch cord is a fiber-optic cable capped at each end with connectors that allow it to be rapidly and conveniently connected to telecommunication equipment. This is known as interconnect-style cabling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">String (structure)</span> Flexible structure made from fibers twisted together

String is a long flexible structure made from fibers twisted together into a single strand, or from multiple such strands which are in turn twisted together. String is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects. It is also used as a material to make things, such as textiles, and in arts and crafts. String is a simple tool, and its use by humans is known to have been developed tens of thousands of years ago. In Mesoamerica, for example, string was invented some 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, and was made by twisting plant fibers together. String may also be a component in other tools, and in devices as diverse as weapons, musical instruments, and toys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downs & Son</span>

Downs & Son was a rope and twine manufacturing firm located in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, which operated the Samson Cordage Works factory in Brunswick. The factory was the oldest and last surviving rope works in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, and the best surviving in Melbourne.

References

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  3. 1 2 3 4 5 MIL-C-5040H, Military Specification Cord, Fibrous, Nylon Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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  5. "TITAN SurvivorCord". TITAN Survival. 13 March 2014.
  6. "P-Cord". Outside. 30 July 2015.
  7. Ganze, Bill. "Surplus Everywhere". Farming in the 1940s. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. "10 Ways a Survival Bracelet Can Save Your Life". 22 April 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  9. "Paracord Lanyard - Lanyard Center". Lanyard Center. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  10. Samantha Grenier, Parachute Cord Craft: Quick and Simple Instructions for 22 Cool Projects Design Originals, 2013 ISBN   1574213717
  11. Greenlee, Brian (5 April 2016). "Types of Parachute Cord". Adventure Survival Equipment. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  12. "MIL-C-5040H" (PDF). 17 March 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 3 April 2020 via milspecmonkey.com.
  13. "All about paracord, how to use it, how to make bracelets". paracordgalaxy.com.