6mm coloured cord tells a different story than expected.
Compared to the hollow braided cord of the same diameter, this rope behaved noticeably differently at break — both in sound and in measured force.
What is the breaking strength of 6mm coloured cord (ppmf)?
In our test: an average of 4.80 kN (489 kg), measured over 5 pulls.
What type of rope is this?
This cord is made from ppmf — polypropylene multifilament. This consists of multiple fine polypropylene fibres braided together into a single cord.
The result is a flexible, lightweight cord that floats on water and has low moisture absorption.
The braided construction produces a round, smooth cross-section. This type of cord is common in packaging applications, hobby and craft, marking, and light fastening.
The coloured finish makes it suitable for applications where visual identification or aesthetics are a factor.
Polypropylene multifilament has lower UV resistance than polyester.
With prolonged outdoor exposure, strength decreases noticeably. Indoors or in sheltered environments it performs well for its weight class.
Test method
The tests were carried out on a universal testing machine with rope-specific clamps, suitable for measuring rope without splicing.
The test speed was 20 mm/s. 5 pulls were performed on separate lengths of cord from the same spool.
No pre-tension was applied prior to the test. Breaking strength was determined as the maximum measured force at the break point.
The tests follow ISO 2307 standards as closely as practically possible.
Results
Over 5 pulls, an average breaking strength of 4.80 kN (489 kg) was measured. The highest measured value was 4.98 kN, the lowest 4.58 kN.
The spread between measurements is limited, indicating consistent fibre quality and braid.
Notable during the test: this cord broke with considerably less noise than the 6mm hollow braided flat-braided polypropylene cord.
That difference in break sound corresponds with a difference in breaking strength — the flat-braided cord measures approximately 100 kg higher.
A possible explanation is that the flat-braided construction distributes the load more evenly across the fibres, allowing the force to be absorbed more uniformly up to the break point.
Another factor may lie in the fibre quality or thickness per braid. It was also noted that this cord exhibited relatively high elongation for ppmf — more than would be expected based on the material alone.
Comparison with other 6mm ropes
To put the measured value in context, an overview of breaking strengths of comparable 6mm ropes tested previously:
- nylon sheath-core, core of 2 parallel strands: 6.75 kN
- polypropylene 3-strand twisted: 6.58 kN
- ppmf (standard): 5.79 kN
- coloured cord 6mm ppmf (this product): 4.80 kN
The coloured cord measures 0.99 kN less than the standard ppmf rope of 6mm. That is a difference of approximately 17%.
The cause is likely a combination of braid geometry and fibre composition.
Nylon sheath-core scores highest in this comparison, at 6.75 kN — almost 2 kN more than this cord.
When is this rope most suitable?
This rope is best suited for light fastening and packaging applications where colour serves a practical or aesthetic function. Examples include:
- Marking and coding of materials, bundles or locations
- Packaging of light goods in storage or transport
- Hobby, craft and decorative applications
- Indoor or sheltered applications without prolonged UV exposure
The relatively high elongation observed during the test makes this cord less suitable for applications requiring dimensional stability, but may be advantageous when used as packaging cord where a tight, secure result is desired.
Limitations
This cord is not suitable for the following situations:
- Prolonged outdoor exposure: polypropylene multifilament degrades significantly under UV radiation. After several months outdoors, strength decreases noticeably.
- High tensile loads: at an average of 4.80 kN, this is the weakest rope in the 6mm comparison. Where higher breaking strength is required, nylon sheath-core (6.75 kN) or standard ppmf (5.79 kN) offers greater margin.
- Dynamic or shock loads: despite the observed elongation, this cord is not constructed as a kinetic rope.
- Wet or chemical environments over the long term: polypropylene is water resistant but not resistant to all chemicals; check compatibility for specific applications.
Alternatives
For applications requiring higher breaking strength or better UV resistance, the following alternatives are worth considering:
- Braided polyester 6mm white per metre — polyester has significantly better UV resistance and retains more than 95% of its strength with prolonged outdoor exposure.
- Braided nylon (polyamide) (6mm, spool 100 metres) — at 6.75 kN the strongest rope in this comparison, with good shock absorption due to higher elongation at break (20–35%).
Conclusion
The 6mm coloured ppmf cord is a lightweight, flexible cord with an average breaking strength of 4.80 kN (489 kg), best suited for light packaging, marking and hobby applications indoors.
For heavier use or outdoor conditions, polyester or nylon alternatives with higher breaking strength and better UV resistance are the better choice.
This test was carried out by Otto Tromm, who still cannot explain why a rope that breaks with so much less noise than its flat-braided counterpart also measures 100 kg lower — but the test equipment does not lie.
The test data were collected by Prorope. This text was generated with AI on the basis of those data and checked for factual accuracy. Read how we test and publish →