On this page you will find frequently asked questions from our customers about textile chains DoNova® . If you are concerned about a question that is not answered here, please do not hesitate to ask us. We will be happy to answer them by mail.
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Through rigorous third party certification, synthetic chains made with Dyneema® DM20 have earned safety factors on par with steel chains. The longevity of DoNova® textile chain is best measured for a specific application. The user manual supplied by Doleco USA outlines the safe use and discard criteria which can be monitored and compared with the maintenance and discard of an existing steel chain assembly.
Just like with all textiles, direct exposure to intense heat, like a welding flame, should be avoided as these temperatures are high enough to melt and join pieces of metal. Dyneema® DM20 fiber is self-extinguishing upon removal of a flame. Therefore, fires do not propagate and the high molecular weight of Dyneema® fiber makes it difficult for the fiber to melt. The DoNova® textile chain can be used in a fabrication area, such as near a welding operation, that is subject to sparks. Doleco USA can help define the save working distance between the welding flame and the textile chain with the aid of their user manual.
In principle, synthetic chains are not explicitly covered with ASME B30.9 because synthetic chains are a new invention. Since there was no standard available, DSM conducted third-party certification to determine the safe use conditions for synthetic chains. The results of the certification process are used to define the safe use and discard criteria with the user manual supplied by Doleco USA. The safe use lifting configurations from ASME B30.9 can readily be used to assess the safe working load of DoNova® textile chain in various lifting assemblies.
There is not a wear strand in the DoNova® textile chain. Wear strands are common in single layers of flat webbing slings. The DoNova® textile chain is made of multiple layers of webbing that are wrapped to form each chain link. In this regard, a cut on the outer most layer does not lead to immediate discard or reduction in the safe working load of the DoNova® textile chain. Therefore, wear strands are not as prevalent with synthetic chains made with Dyneema®. The cutting resistance of Dyneema® fibers is 10X higher than polyester fiber.
1” Grade 100 steel chain is approximately 10.10 lbs. per foot. The 25/8 DoNova® textile chain is .40 lbs. per foot at an equivalent safe working load limit. Therefore, DoNova® textile chain is approximately 96% lighter than 1” Grade 100 steel chain. Put another way, 1” Grade 100 steel chain is 25X heavier than DoNova® textile chain.