Abstract: A conductive polymer composite material for semiconductive jackets for cables which has a significant reduction in conductive filler content while maintaining the required conductivity and mechanical properties specified by industry. Materials and processing approaches are selected to reduce the percolation threshold of the conductive filler in the composite, while balancing the material selection with the industry-required mechanical properties of the semiconductive jacket. The semiconductive jacket material comprises a minor phase material which is a semicrystalline polymer; a conductive filler material dispersed in the minor phase material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the minor phase material; and a major phase material which is a polymer which when mixed with the minor phase material will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility.

Abstract: A characteristic feature on a generally longitudinal member is detected as the member is longitudinally advanced on a path extending from a first position to a second position. Based on the detection of the feature on the member and monitoring of the advance of the member on the path, indicia can be applied to a desired position on the member. The detected feature can be an S-Z reversal existing or created on a strand of S-Z stranded optical fiber buffer tubes included in an optical fiber cable which is undergoing cable manufacture along a cabling line. Intensity data values representative of an optical image sample of the strand with the S-Z reversal feature, where the image sample is obtained by an optical radiation detector coupled to the path, are processed for identifying the S-Z reversal feature on the strand.

Abstract: An optical fiber or electrical power cable with at least one electrochemical chemical analyte sensor which includes a conductive polymer which extends longitudinally along the length of the cable. The polymer has electrical properties which undergo a reversible change when in contact with a chemical analyte. The conductive polymer can be a conductive polymer composite including an immiscible polymer blend of at least two polymers and a conductive filler which is dispersed in one of the polymers of the blend through a multiple percolation process.