1. Oil
Applying oil to wire ropes is essential to ensure their longevity. The fiber core of the rope must be immersed in oil, while grease is used to protect it from decay and prevent it from corroding the steel wire. Additionally, the grease moisturizes the fiber and provides internal lubrication to the steel wire rope. The outer surface of the rope strands should also be coated with anti-rust lubrication grease to increase their resistance to wear and water, especially when used for friction lifting and subterranean water transport where black grease is preferred. In other cases, a layer of red oil grease with a thin oil layer, easy to keep clean during operations, is applied to provide a strong film with excellent rust prevention performance.
2. Coating
Different types of coatings can be applied to steel wire to enhance their performance. Galvanized steel wire can be coated with either a thin or thick layer of zinc, or even aluminized. For severe corrosion environments, thicker coating is preferred, although its mechanical properties are reduced. Aluminized steel wire is suitable for environments where corrosion, wear, and heat resistance are vital, such as fishing trawling vessels and mines containing H2S. Nylon or plastic coating can also be applied to steel wire rope, either as a coating on the rope or as a coated stock after the rope. The former is used for static cables, while the latter is suitable for moving cables.