Abstract: A cable wrap which swells upon contact with water is made by coating one side of a nonwoven fabric support with a polyvinyl alcohol binding agent and then with a superabsorber powder, drying the coated fabric between contact surfaces, printing a polyacrylate binding agent plaste onto the superabsorber surface, and then drying the coated fabric. Alternatively, the cable wrap can be made by printing a polyacrylate binding agent paste onto a nonwoven fabric support, applying a polyvinyl alcohol binding agent onto the polyacrylate binding agent paste, sprinkling superabsorber powder onto the polyvinyl alcohol binding agent, and drying the coated fabric between contact surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a swellable nonwoven fabric strip for a cable wrapping having a specific resistance of 3,000 .OMEGA..multidot.cm.sup.2 or less and a method for its manufacture. The strip is in the form of a fibrous flat material without perceptible layered construction, wherein the fibers are aligned mainly lengthwise of the strip and are 95 to 75 wt.- % in the form of viscose fibers and 5 to 25 wt.- % in the form of shrunken polyvinylalcohol fibers soluble in water beginning at 80.degree. C. The flat material is uniformly impregnated with a binding agent which under the action of water loses its ability to adhere. The strip contains swelling powder particles which swell upon the access of water but do not dissolve, the swelling agent being distributed in an amount of 20 to 40 g/m.sup.2. The strip is capable of swelling at the place of access of the water to at least 90% of its achievable thickness in approximately one minute.