A braided structure that includes a core and a sheath is provided. The core includes a yarn formed at least in part from an aromatic polymer (e.g., an aromatic polyester/liquid crystalline polymer or an aramid polymer), and the sheath, which includes a plurality of ultra high molecular weight polyolefin yarns, is braided around the core. The sheath has an overall diameter ranging from about 60 micrometers to about 650 micrometers. Despite its small diameter, the braided structure can be creep resistant and abrasion resistant while at the same time exhibiting low elongation, a high load at break, and high stiffness. The braided structure can be used in medical applications such as sutures, load bearing orthopedic applications, artificial tendons/ligaments, fixation devices, actuation cables, components for tissue repair, etc.

A steel wire rope is presented for use in elevators and lifting applications. The steel wire rope contains a core surrounded by multiple strands. The outer filaments of the core and the outer filaments of the strands are likely to contact one another during used. The outer steel filaments of the core have an average Vickers hardness that is at least 50 Vickers hardness numbers lower than that of the outer filaments of the strands. As the hardness of the outer filaments of the core is substantially lower than that of the outer filaments of the strands, those softer filaments will preferentially abrade away during use. In this way the core is sacrificed while preserving the integrity of the outer filaments of the strands. The use of this ‘sacrificial core’ results in a higher residual breaking load after use.

A steel wire rope is presented for use in elevators and lifting applications. The steel wire rope contains a core surrounded by multiple strands. The outer filaments of the core and the outer filaments of the strands are likely to contact one another during used. The outer steel filaments of the core have an average Vickers hardness that is at least 50 Vickers hardness numbers lower than that of the outer filaments of the strands. As the hardness of the outer filaments of the core is substantially lower than that of the outer filaments of the strands, those softer filaments will preferentially abrade away during use. In this way the core is sacrificed while preserving the integrity of the outer filaments of the strands. The use of this ‘sacrificial core’ results in a higher residual breaking load after use.

The durability of a wire rope is improved. The wire rope includes a rope body having at least one strand each formed with a plurality of element wires twisted with each other; a lubricant interposed between the plurality of element wires of the at least one strand; and a resin layer coating the outer periphery of the rope body along with the lubricant, the lubricant containing a sulfur-containing organic molybdenum compound.

The durability of a wire rope is improved. The wire rope includes a rope body having at least one strand each formed with a plurality of element wires twisted with each other; a lubricant interposed between the plurality of element wires of the at least one strand; and a resin layer coating the outer periphery of the rope body along with the lubricant, the lubricant containing a sulfur-containing organic molybdenum compound.

A synthetic fiber rope comprising:—a core, said core being a laid or braided synthetic fiber strand,—a polymer layer, said polymer layer covering said core,—a first layer, said first layer having at least six first synthetic fiber strands laid in a first direction surround said polymer layer, and—a second layer, said second layer having at least twelve second synthetic fiber strands laid in a second direction surround said first layer.

A synthetic fiber rope comprising:—a core, said core being a laid or braided synthetic fiber strand,—a polymer layer, said polymer layer covering said core,—a first layer, said first layer having at least six first synthetic fiber strands laid in a first direction surround said polymer layer, and—a second layer, said second layer having at least twelve second synthetic fiber strands laid in a second direction surround said first layer.

A two-layer multi-strand cord (60) comprises an internal layer (CI) of the cord made up of J>1 internal strands (TI) and an external layer (CE) of the cord made up of L>1 external strands (TE). The cord satisfies the relationship 95≤MC≤175, where MC=(J×MI+L×ME)/(J+L); MI=200×cos.sup.4(α)×[Q×(D1/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β)+P×(D2/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(δ)+N×(D3/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ)]/[Q×(D1/2).sup.2+P×(D2/2).sup.2+N×(D3/2).sup.2]; and ME=200×cos.sup.4(α′)×[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β′)+N′×(D2′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ′)]/[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2+N′×(D2′/2).sup.2], where D1, D1′, D2, D2′, and D3 are in mm, α and α′ are the helix angle of each internal and external strand (TI), β and β′ are the helix angle of each internal thread (F1, F1′), δ is the helix angle of each intermediate thread (F2) and γ and γ′ are the helix angle of each external thread (F3, F2′).

A two-layer multi-strand cord (60) comprises an internal layer (CI) of the cord made up of J>1 internal strands (TI) and an external layer (CE) of the cord made up of L>1 external strands (TE). The cord satisfies the relationship 95≤MC≤175, where MC=(J×MI+L×ME)/(J+L); MI=200×cos.sup.4(α)×[Q×(D1/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β)+P×(D2/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(δ)+N×(D3/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ)]/[Q×(D1/2).sup.2+P×(D2/2).sup.2+N×(D3/2).sup.2]; and ME=200×cos.sup.4(α′)×[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β′)+N′×(D2′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ′)]/[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2+N′×(D2′/2).sup.2], where D1, D1′, D2, D2′, and D3 are in mm, α and α′ are the helix angle of each internal and external strand (TI), β and β′ are the helix angle of each internal thread (F1, F1′), δ is the helix angle of each intermediate thread (F2) and γ and γ′ are the helix angle of each external thread (F3, F2′).

A two-layer multi-strand cord (60) comprises an internal layer (CI) of the cord made up of J>1 internal strands (TI) and an external layer (CE) of the cord made up of L>1 external strands (TE). The cord satisfies the relationship 95≤MC≤180, where MC=(J×MI+L×ME)/(J+L); MI=200×cos.sup.4(α)×[Q×(D1/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β)+P×(D2/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(δ)+N×(D3/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ)]/[Q×(D1/2).sup.2+P×(D2/2).sup.2+N×(D3/2).sup.2]; and ME=200×cos.sup.4(α′)×[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(β′)+P′×(D2′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(δ′)+N′×(D3′/2).sup.2×cos.sup.4(γ′)]/[Q′×(D1′/2).sup.2+P′×(D2/2).sup.2+N′×(D3′/2).sup.2], where D1, D1′, D2, D2′, D3 and D3′ are in mm, α and α′ are the helix angle of each internal and external strand (TI), β and β′ are the helix angle of each internal thread (F1, F1′), δ and δ′ are the helix angle of each intermediate thread (F2, F2′) and γ and γ′ are the helix angle of each external thread (F3, F3′).