Abstract: Recognizing the rate-determining nature of the coating removal and recoating steps, applicants have demonstrated that with proper combination of low absorbing polymer, glass and low intensity radiation, UV-induced gratings can be side-written into polymer coated fibers without removing the polymer, thus permitting up the possibility of high speed fabrication of fiber gratings.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered that low pullout strength of optical fiber is attributable to volatile, unreacted monomers and impurities which result from the incomplete polymerization of liquid coating materials. They have further discovered that removing these unreacted liquids as by heating in air, heating in vacuum or by application of a solvent mixture improves fiber coating adhesion. By heating cured polymer-coated fiber in air at temperatures of 100.degree. C. or more, the fiber pullout strength is enhanced by 25% or more. This postcure heating can advantageously be clone off-line by placing loosely wound fiber in a heated oven. Alternatively, the postcure heating can be done on-line by reel-to-reel passage of the fiber through a heated furnace. Preferred temperatures are in the range 100.degree. C.-300.degree. C. Even greater enhancement of pullout strength can be effected by heating in vacuum or by solvent extraction.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered that by heating cured polymer-coated fiber at temperatures of 100.degree. C. or more, they can enhance the fiber pullout strength by 25% or more. This postcure heating can advantageously be done off-line by placing loosely wound fiber in a heated oven. Alternatively the postcure heating can be done on-line by reel-to-reel passage of the fiber through a heated furnace. Preferred temperatures are in the range 100.degree. C.-300.degree. C.

Abstract: An insulated conductor (20) for use in a communication cable which includes a filling material (30) includes a copper conductor (25) and a composite insulation system (27) comprising two concentric layers of insulation. An inner foam layer (28) of the insulation comprises a cellular plastic material (28) which includes a stabilizer system. An outer layer (29) of the insulation is referred to as a skin and comprises a stabilized solid plastic material. The stabilizer system in each of the cellular and solid layers includes a bifunctional portion that functions as an antioxidant and as a metal deactivator and that has a relatively high resistance to extraction. The level of the bifunctional portion of the stabilizer in the cellular material is substantially greater than that in the skin inasmuch as it has been found that the level of the stabilizer cellular layer contiguous to the copper wire determines the oxidation performance level of the composite insulation.

Abstract: A flame resistant and smoke suppressed plasticized polyvinyl chloride polymer containing from about 20 to about 80 parts per hundred resin (phr) of an ester-type plasticizer and an effective amount of a flame retardant and smoke suppressant agent comprising an inorganic molybdenum compound such as molybdenum oxides and metal molybdates. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the flame retardant and smoke suppressant agent further includes a controlled effective amount of an antimony compound such as antimony oxide in combination with the molybdenum compound imparting synergistic flame retardancy and smoke suppressing characteristics to the plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin formulation.