Abstract: Disclosed is an optical cable that includes an outer sheath housing a number of optical fibers, wherein the outer sheath has an outer cross-section in the shape of a hexagon. The outer sheath then exhibits six flat surfaces longitudinally extending along the whole cable length. Any one of such flat surfaces may be covered with a thin layer of glue and then be attached to the wall surface. As this surface is flat, a reliable and durable fixing of the cable may be achieved using an amount of glue which is far reduced in comparison to the amounts of glue typically required for fixing known cables having a round cross-section.

Abstract: An optical cable has a cable core including at least one tube loosely accommodating optical fibers, the at least one tube being accommodated within a jacket embedding at least two strength members, the cable core and the jacket comprising combustible material. A ratio of core combustible material/jacket combustible material is lower than 60 vol %. The jacket is made of a composition having hardness of at least 60 Shore D and a LOI higher than 35%.

Abstract: It is disclosed an optical cable for communications including at least one micromodule, the micromodule including a retaining element and number N of optical fibers housed in said retaining element. The diameter of a circumference encircling the number N of optical fibers is typically 90% to 95% of an inner diameter of the retaining element. The retaining element consists essentially of a film grade polymeric material having an elongation at break equal to or higher than 500%, a melt flow index (MFI) lower than 3 g/10 min, and a density lower than 1 g/cm3.

Abstract: A fire resistant optical cable includes: a plurality of optical fibers; at least one tubular layer of a ceramifiable material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and at least one flame shielding layer surrounding the tubular layer. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is able to mechanically protect the optical fibers not only during heating but also when the fire is extinguished, since it forms a sufficiently robust layer to withstand the mechanical stresses caused by the collapsing of the materials still surrounding the cable, especially in the transition portions between hot and cold zones. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is protected by means of at least one flame shielding layer which prevents the flames from directly acting on the ceramifiable material.

Abstract: An optical cable has a cable core including at least one tube loosely accommodating optical fibers, the at least one tube being accommodated within a jacket embedding at least two strength members, the cable core and the jacket comprising combustible material. A ratio of core combustible material/jacket combustible material is lower than 60 vol %. The jacket is made of a composition having hardness of at least 60 Shore D and a LOI higher than 35%.

Abstract: A telecommunication cable is equipped with at least one optical fiber coated by a tight buffer layer made from a polymeric material having an ultimate elongation equal to or lower than 100% and an ultimate tensile strength equal to or lower than 10 MPa. The above combination of features of the polymeric material forming the buffer layer provides an optical fiber which is effectively protected during installation operations and during use, and at the same time can be easily stripped by an installer without using any stripping tools, simply by applying a small pressure with his fingertips and a moderate tearing force along the fiber axis.

Abstract: A fire resistant optical cable includes: a plurality of optical fibers; at least one tubular layer of a ceramifiable material surrounding the plurality of optical fibers; and at least one flame shielding layer surrounding the tubular layer. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is able to mechanically protect the optical fibers not only during heating but also when the fire is extinguished, since it forms a sufficiently robust layer to withstand the mechanical stresses caused by the collapsing of the materials still surrounding the cable, especially in the transition portions between hot and cold zones. The tubular layer of the ceramifiable material is protected by means of at least one flame shielding layer which prevents the flames from directly acting on the ceramifiable material.

Abstract: It is disclosed an optical cable for communications including at least one micromodule, the micromodule including a retaining element and number N of optical fibers housed in said retaining element. The diameter of a circumference encircling the number N of optical fibers is typically 90% to 95% of an inner diameter of the retaining element. The retaining element consists essentially of a film grade polymeric material having an elongation at break equal to or higher than 500%, a melt flow index (MFI) lower than 3 g/10 min, and a density lower than 1 g/cm3.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical cable for communication includes at least one micromodule, said micromodule being blocked with respect to the propagation of water. The method includes the steps of providing at least one optical fiber; embedding the at least one optical fiber in a pseudoplastic filling compound having a viscosity of 3 Pa·s to 30 Pa·s, preferably 7 Pa·s to 25 Pa·s at a shear rate of 10 s?1 and at a temperature of 100° C., and a cross-over lower than 30 Hz, preferably 5 Hz to 25 Hz, at a temperature of 100° C.; and extruding a retaining element made of a thermoplastic polymeric composition around the at least one optical fiber so embedded in the filling compound to obtain a micromodule.

Abstract: A telecommunication cable is equipped with at least one optical fiber coated by a tight buffer layer made from a polymeric material having an ultimate elongation equal to or lower than 100% and an ultimate tensile strength equal to or lower than 10 MPa. The above combination of features of the polymeric material forming the buffer layer provides an optical fiber which is effectively protected during installation operations and during use, and at the same time can be easily stripped by an installer without using any stripping tools, simply by applying a small pressure with his fingertips and a moderate tearing force along the fiber axis.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical cable for communication includes at least one micromodule, said micromodule being blocked with respect to the propagation of water. The method includes the steps of providing at least one optical fiber; embedding the at least one optical fiber in a pseudoplastic filling compound having a viscosity of 3 Pa·s to 30 Pa·s, preferably 7 Pa·s to 25 Pa·s at a shear rate of 10 s?1 and at a temperature of 100° C., and a cross-over lower than 30 Hz, preferably 5 Hz to 25 Hz, at a temperature of 100° C.; and extruding a retaining element made of a thermoplastic polymeric composition around the at least one optical fiber so embedded in the filling compound to obtain a micromodule.

Abstract: An optical cable for communication includes at least one micromodule, wherein the micromodule is blocked with respect to the propagation of water. The at least one micromodule includes at least one optical fiber, a retaining element for housing the at least one optical fiber, and a thixotropic filling compound arranged within the retaining element. The filling compound is thixotropic, has a viscosity higher than or equal to 700 Pa·s at zero shear rate and at a first temperature of 20° C., a loss modulus G? lower than or equal to 3000 MPa at 1 Hz and at a second temperature of ?45° C., and is compatible with the retaining element.

Abstract: An optical fiber unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fiber elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: An optical cable for communication includes at least one micromodule, wherein the micromodule is blocked with respect to the propagation of water. The at least ones micromodule includes at least one optical fiber, a retaining element for housing the at least one optical fiber, and a thixotropic filling compound arranged within the retaining element. The filling compound is thixotropic, has a viscosity higher than or equal to 700 Pa-s at zero shear rate and at a first temperature of 20° C., a loss modulus G? lower than or equal to 3000 MPa at 1 Hz and at a second temperature of ?45° C., and is compatible with the retaining element.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.