Abstract: A fiber optic cable and methods for manufacturing the same the fiber optic cable including a fiber optic cable core, the fiber optic cable core includes at least one optical fiber and a separation layer. The separation layer generally surrounds the at least one optical fiber, and a cable jacket generally surrounds the separation layer. The cable jacket has an average shrinkage of about 2.0% or less during a cable jacket shrinkage test conducted at a temperature of 110° C. for 2 hours with the cable core removed. The low-shrink characteristic of the cable jacket preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations.

Abstract: At least one buffered optical fiber, and methods for manufacturing the same, including an optical fiber and a buffer layer. The buffer layer generally surrounds the optical fiber and has a low-shrink characteristic that preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations. In other embodiments, the at least one buffered optical fiber may be a fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable and methods for manufacturing the same the fiber optic cable including a fiber optic cable core, the fiber optic cable core includes at least one optical fiber and a separation layer. The separation layer generally surrounds the at least one optical fiber, and a cable jacket generally surrounds the separation layer. The cable jacket has an average shrinkage of about 2.0% or less during a cable jacket shrinkage test conducted at a temperature of 110° C. for 2 hours with the cable core removed. The low-shrink characteristic of the cable jacket preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations.

Abstract: At least one buffered optical fiber, and methods for manufacturing the same, including an optical fiber and a buffer layer. The buffer layer generally surrounds the optical fiber and has a low-shrink characteristic that preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations. In other embodiments, the at least one buffered optical fiber may be a fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: At least one buffered optical fiber, and methods for manufacturing the same, including an optical fiber and a buffer layer. The buffer layer generally surrounds the optical fiber and has a low-shrink characteristic that preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations. In other embodiments, the at least one buffered optical fiber may be a fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: At least one buffered optical fiber, and methods for manufacturing the same, including an optical fiber and a buffer layer. The buffer layer generally surrounds the optical fiber and has a low-shrink characteristic that preserves optical performance during, for example, temperature variations. In other embodiments, the at least one buffered optical fiber may be a fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon is provided that includes a tape having a preferential splitting direction to facilitate the separation of the optical fiber ribbon into subsets having a desired number of optical fibers. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers, either discrete optical fibers or optical fibers disposed within a common coating. The tape is attached to the optical fibers, either directly or to the common coating, such that the preferential splitting direction extends parallel to the optical fibers in a lengthwise direction. The resulting optical fiber ribbon can be readily separated into subsets having predetermined numbers of optical fibers since the preferential splitting direction of the tape will guide the separation of the optical fiber ribbon. Associated methods of fabricating and splitting the optical fiber ribbon are also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) having at least one optical fiber (22) and a component disposed within the cable (10) between a core (20) and a jacket section (30) of the cable, and a method of making the cable. The component includes a substrate (34) with a water blocking formulation (50) thereon, the water blocking formulation (50) comprising a radiation curable resin (52) and a water absorptive substance (54) at least partially embedded or compounded in the radiation curable resin (52). The radiation curable resin (52) includes an initiator for rapid processing speeds. The water blocking formulation (50) may include a non-compatible material for reducing friction and/or enhancing physical properties. Water blocking formulation (50) is advantageously adaptable to application on various exemplary cable components (40,75,87,94,96,98,104).

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) having at least one optical fiber (22) and a component disposed within the cable (10) between a core (20) and a jacket section (30) of the cable, and a method of making the cable. The component includes a substrate (34) with a water blocking formulation (50) thereon, the water blocking formulation (50) comprising a radiation curable resin (52) and a water absorptive substance (54) at least partially embedded or compounded in the radiation curable resin (52). The radiation curable resin (52) includes an initiator for rapid processing speeds. The water blocking formulation (50) may include a non-compatible material for reducing friction and/or enhancing physical properties. Water blocking formulation (50) is advantageously adaptable to application on various exemplary cable components (40, 75, 87, 94, 96, 98, 104).

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) having at least one optical fiber (22) and a component disposed within the cable (10) between a core (20) and a jacket section (30) of the cable, and a method of making the cable. The component includes a substrate (34) with a water blocking formulation (50) thereon, the water blocking formulation (50) comprising a radiation curable resin (52) and a water absorptive substance (54) at least partially embedded or compounded in the radiation curable resin (52). The radiation curable resin (52) includes an initiator for rapid processing speeds. The water blocking formulation (50) may include a non-compatible material for reducing friction and/or enhancing physical properties. Water blocking formulation (50) is advantageously adaptable to application on various exemplary cable components (40,75,87,94,96,98,104).

Abstract: An optical cable component made up of an elongated flexible substrate, having first and second groups of plastic coated optical fibers, the first group being removably affixed to a first surface of the substrate and the surface opposite from the first group on its opposite surface being essentially unoccupied. The second group of plastic coated optical fibers are removably affixed to the second surface of the substrate and the surface opposite from the second group being essentially unoccupied. Between the first and second groups of plastic coated optical fibers, there is delimited an unoccupied portion on both surfaces essentially equal to the diameter of one of the plastic coated optical fibers. Each group of plastic coated optical fibers bear an indicia for identification purposes.

Abstract: An improved transmission cable containing a filling material having superior handling and melt point characteristics useful for waterproofing telecommunication cables composed of a styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene block copolymer dissolved in petrolatum with polyethylene added for consistency and to increase the melting point of the mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are telephone cable filling materials and telephone cables comprised of a plurality of insulated electrical conductors twisted together to form a core in which there are a multiplicity of interstices between the insulated electrical conductors filled with the cable filler materials. The filling materials are composed of a petrolatum base material and inorganic microspheres and can be divided into two groups: (1) a first group to fill cables used at temperatures below the melting point of the petrolatum and (2) a second group to fill cables that may be used above that temperature. The first group is composed of mixtures of 40 to 90 weight percent petrolatum and 1 to 60 weight percent inorganic hollow (air filled) microspheres. When mixtures from this group are used as a filler in a telephone cable, the filler has a drip point nearly equal to the average melting point of the petrolatum, normally 57.2.degree. C. The second group is composed of two embodiments.

Abstract: Disclosed are telephone cable filling materials and telephone cables comprised of a plurality of insulated electrical conductors twisted together to form a core in which there are a multiplicity of interstices between the insulated electrical conductors filled with the cable filler materials. The filling materials are composed of a petrolatum base material and inorganic microspheres and can be divided into two groups: (1) a first group to fill cables used at temperatures below the melting point of the petrolatum and (2) a second group to fill cables that may be used above that temperature. The first group is composed of mixtures of 40 to 90 weight percent petrolatum and 1 to 60 weight percent inorganic hollow (air filled) microspheres. When mixtures from this group are used as a filler in a telephone cable, the filler has a drip point nearly equal to the average melting point of the petrolatum, normally 57.2.degree. C. The second group is composed of two embodiments.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials used to fill electrical and light waveguides transmitting communications cables to make them waterproof. The filling materials have superior waterproofing, dielectric and handling characteristics and are made from compounds of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene or styrene-isoprene-styrene type block copolymers dissolved in paraffinic or naphthenic type mineral oils with a minimal content of aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic hollow microspheres and, if desired, an additive such as low molecular weight polyethylene or glycerol hydroxy stearate.

Abstract: Disclosed are telephone cable filling materials and telephone cables comprised of a plurality of insulated electrical conductors twisted together to form a core in which there are a multiplicity of interstices between the insulated electrical conductors filled with the cable filler materials. The filling materials are composed of a petrolatum base material and inorganic microspheres and can be divided into two groups: (1) a first group to fill cables used at temperatures below the melting point of the petrolatum and (2) a second group to fill cables that may be used above that temperature. The first group is composed of mixtures of 40 to 90 weight percent petrolatum and 1 to 60 weight percent inorganic hollow (air filled) microspheres. When mixtures from this group are used as a filler in a telephone cable, the filler has a drip point nearly equal to the average melting point of the petrolatum, normally 57.2.degree. C. The second group is composed of two embodiments.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials used to fill electrical and light waveguide transmitting communications cables to make them waterproof. The filling materials have superior waterproofing, dielectric and handling characteristics and are made from compounds of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene or styrene-isoprene-styrene type block copolymers dissolved in paraffinic or naphthenic type mineral oils with a minimal content of aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic hollow microspheres and, if desired, an additive such as low molecular weight polyethylene or glycerol hydroxy stearate.