Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a plasma treatment (under atmospheric conditions or under vacuum conditions) of a jacketed cable comprising a cable jacket and a heat shrink tubing. The plasma treatment improves retention properties of an optical fiber cable assembly by imparting a permanent change on a polymer surface of the cable jacket by cross-linking, leading to eventual graphitization, that can result in a diffusion barrier layer at an interface of the cable jacket and the heat shrink tubing, which prevents or minimizes plasticizer migration and results in an environmental seal (e.g., a long-term water tight seal).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a plasma treatment (under atmospheric conditions or under vacuum conditions) of a jacketed cable comprising a cable jacket and a heat shrink tubing. The plasma treatment improves retention properties of an optical fiber cable assembly by imparting a permanent change on a polymer surface of the cable jacket by cross-linking, leading to eventual graphitization, that can result in a diffusion barrier layer at an interface of the cable jacket and the heat shrink tubing, which prevents or minimizes plasticizer migration and results in an environmental seal (e.g., a long-term water tight seal).