A unique test of ropes made by our company, LANEX a.s., is currently under way in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. The Tested in Antarctica project, carried out in cooperation with Masaryk University and the Technology Transfer Office of Masaryk University (CTT MUNI), makes it possible to verify the properties of Czech textile technologies directly in one of the harshest environments on the planet.
The testing is taking place at the J. G. Mendel Czech Antarctic Station on James Ross Island and at the CZ*ECO Nelson field camp on Nelson Island. LANEX climbing, static and anchoring ropes are exposed here over the long term to a combination of extremely low temperatures, strong winds, intense UV radiation, high humidity and mechanical load.
Real conditions without laboratory compromises
Unlike laboratory tests, conditions in Antarctica cannot be stabilised or adjusted. The tested ropes are used or installed directly in the field and exposed to the real effects of frost, wind and moisture. It is precisely this authenticity that gives the Tested in Antarctica project its exceptional research value.
The Masaryk University research team is focusing mainly on the ropes’ user properties during long-term use in the polar environment. Strength tests supervised by a technician from an accredited laboratory in the Czech Republic will follow.
Long-term load and the creep effect
Special attention is paid to the so-called creep effect – the slow, permanent elongation of a rope under constant load. This phenomenon is crucial above all for anchoring systems and technical applications, where material stability is key to safety.
Some of the tested ropes will remain exposed to direct polar conditions for more than a year. After returning to the Czech Republic, the samples will undergo detailed laboratory analysis. The aim is to evaluate precisely how the combination of cold, humidity, UV radiation and long-term load affects:
- rope strength
- elongation under load
- structural stability of the material
- long-term service life
Czech Television also reported on the project – https://tinyurl.com/yaf5wpzw (at 03:48, in Czech).
Connecting academic research and industry
The Tested in Antarctica project connects academic research at Masaryk University with the needs of industrial partners. Through CTT MUNI, it creates a platform that allows Czech companies to verify their technologies in extreme conditions that cannot be realistically simulated in a European environment.
For LANEX a.s., a traditional Czech manufacturer of ropes and technical textiles, testing in Antarctica is a unique opportunity to gain valuable data for the further development of products designed for demanding operating conditions – from industry and energy to rescue and climbing applications.
The knowledge gained contributes to a deeper understanding of how modern textile materials behave in extreme conditions and supports their safer and more efficient use in practice.
Photos: MUNI archive
