Abstract: A wire rope including at least one metal wire and at least one fluoropolymer fiber. Preferably, the fluoropolymer fiber is present in an amount less than about 25 weight %, and in alternative embodiments less than 20 weight %, 15 weight %, 10 weight %, and 5 weight %. The fluoropolymer fiber is preferably PTFE, and most preferably expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The wire rope is useful in tensioned and bending applications.

Abstract: A spring probe assembly 10 which contains spring probes 50 and 60 used for mating to various planar devices, such as a printed circuit board, via spring contact with interface areas on their surfaces. The assembly 10 is comprised of a non-metallic, insulating material block 20 which has been crafted to secure multiple, impedance matched, coaxial spring probe assemblies 50 and ground spring pins 60. A metallic clip 70 is used to join the signal probe shield 54 with the ground spring pin 62 in the appropriate geometry, while isolating that signal probe shield 54 and ground spring pin 62 from all other signal probe shields 54 and ground pins 62. The pins 52 of the signal probes 50 make contact with the surfaces of various planar devices via back pressure applied to the pins 52.

Abstract: A PTFE fiber that is adapted to be sewn at high speeds. The fiber has a toughness greater than about 0.36 grams per denier (g/d). A range for the toughness is from about 0.36 to about 1.01 g/d, with a preferred range being from about 0.50 to about 0.80 g/d. The toughness of the inventive PTFE fiber is most preferably about 0.60 g/d. The inventive fiber has a peak engineering stress greater than about 1.6 g/d and a break strain greater than about 15.5 percent. A preferred range for the peak engineering stress is from about 3.0 g/d to about 5.0 g/d, and a preferred range for the break strain is from about 20 percent to about 50 percent. Most preferably, the peak engineering stress is about 4.4 g/d, and the break strain is about 24 percent. In another aspect, this invention provides a process for making a fiber that involves providing a PTFE fiber and heating the PTFE fiber to a temperature of from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.