Secondary riser covers - type of plastic?

[pchapman 279]

Any idea what kind of plastic sheet is used inside the secondary riser covers found on modern rigs?

I'm guessing something like 0.020" UHMW polyethylene.

Or slightly thicker for more stiffness.

Lexan (polycarbonate) is a possibility but I think it is more likely to crack.

[hookitt 1]

Ballistic cloth

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[FrogNog 1]

I've seen the rolls of plastic. No idea what sort it is - I can't generally identify a plastic unless I heat it with a lighter and snort the fumes. (expl)

You could call a container mfgr and ask them. There is a pretty good chance they won't consider this a critical trade secret.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[rigging65 0]

hookitt's got it right, ballistic cloth.

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[riggermick 7]

Quote

Any idea what kind of plastic sheet is used inside the secondary riser covers found on modern rigs?

I'm guessing something like 0.020" UHMW polyethylene.

Or slightly thicker for more stiffness.

Lexan (polycarbonate) is a possibility but I think it is more likely to crack.

Most secondary riser covers are resin stiffened Ballistic Cloth. Any plastic on a rig is generally MDS (molibdimum (sp?) disulfide nylon) under the brand name Nylatron. It comes in a variety of thickneses.

Mick.

[pchapman 279]

Thanks for the info everyone!

MDS is indeed another plastic I've seen on rigs in general. As for Nylatron, I've used it in a non-skydiving application. In that case it was an oil-impregnated greenish nylon. It could be that under the Nylatron brand name there's also a greyish MDS-impregnated type.

While I don't have enough experience to know for sure, I still think not ALL secondary riser covers use ballistic nylon. I've felt some covers that felt heavier but more flexible than most, which would make sense if they used ballistic nylon. Yet others still have a 'crinkle' to them, as if there's a thin sheet of plastic in there.