Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber, a cable jacket and a foam layer. The cable jacket includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the outer surface is an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. The inner surface is disposed around the at least one optical fiber. The foam layer is disposed between the at least one optical fiber and the cable jacket. The foam layer is made of an extruded product of at least one thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a chemical foaming agent, and a crosslinking agent. The foam layer has a closed-cell morphology having pores with an average effective circle diameter of less than 100 ?m. Further, the foam layer has a compression modulus of less than 1 MPa when measured at 50% strain.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable configured for installation in a roadbed are provide. The optical fiber cable includes an optical fiber, a cable jacket surrounding the optical fiber, and an upjacket surrounding the cable jacket. The upjacket does not leach a chemical or chemicals into the roadbed that soften the roadbed. Also provided are embodiments of a method of producing an optical fiber cable configured for installation in a roadbed. Further, embodiments of a method of deploying an optical fiber cable into a roadbed are provided. The method involves the steps of forming a channel in the roadbed, inserting an optical fiber cable into the channel, and closing the channel so as to bury the optical fiber cable in the roadbed.

Abstract: An optical fiber drop cable. The optical fiber drop cable includes at least one optical fiber and at least one inner tensile element wound around the at least one optical fiber having a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber drop cable also includes an interior jacket disposed around the at least one inner tensile element and an exterior jacket having an inner surface and an outer surface. The optical fiber drop cable further includes at least one outer tensile element disposed between the interior jacket and the outer surface of the exterior jacket. Each of the at least one outer tensile element has a laylength of at least 1 m. The exterior jacket includes at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. The exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120 (10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes from 0% to 80% by weight of a polyolefin component and from 20% to 100% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer component. The polymer composition has an elastic modulus of less than 1500 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis according to ASTM D4065. Further, the polymer composition has a coefficient of thermal expansion as averaged over the temperature range of ?40° C. to 25° C. of more than 120×10?6/K when measured according to ASTM E831, and the polymer composition has a thermal contraction stress of no more than 4.0 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis. Additionally, embodiments of an optical fiber cable having a cable jacket made of the polymeric composition are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber, a cable jacket, and a foam layer. The cable jacket has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface is an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable, and the inner surface is disposed around the at least one optical fiber. The foam layer is disposed between the at least one optical fiber and the cable jacket. The foam layer includes a polymer component having from 30% to 100% by weight of a polyolefin elastomer (POE) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and from 0% to 70% by weight of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The foam layer has a closed-cell morphology having pores with an average effective circle diameter of 10 ?m to 500 ?m. Further, the expansion ratio of the foam layer is at least 50%.

Abstract: An optical fiber drop cable. The optical fiber drop cable includes at least one optical fiber and at least one inner tensile element wound around the at least one optical fiber having a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber drop cable also includes an interior jacket disposed around the at least one inner tensile element and an exterior jacket having an inner surface and an outer surface. The optical fiber drop cable further includes at least one outer tensile element disposed between the interior jacket and the outer surface of the exterior jacket. Each of the at least one outer tensile element has a laylength of at least 1 m. The exterior jacket includes at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. The exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes from 0% to 80% by weight of a polyolefin component and from 20% to 100% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer component. The polymer composition has an elastic modulus of less than 1500 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis according to ASTM D4065. Further, the polymer composition has a coefficient of thermal expansion as averaged over the temperature range of ?40° C. to 25° C. of more than 120×10?6/K when measured according to ASTM E831, and the polymer composition has a thermal contraction stress of no more than 4.0 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis. Additionally, embodiments of an optical fiber cable having a cable jacket made of the polymeric composition are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a cable jacket having an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface defines a central bore along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable and the outer surface defines the outermost extent of the cable. The optical fiber cable also includes at least one access feature disposed in the cable jacket between the inner surface and the outer surface. Further included are a first plurality of optical fiber bundles. Each optical fiber bundle includes a second plurality of optical fiber ribbons that has a third plurality of optical fibers arranged in a planar configuration. The optical fiber cable bends uniformly in all directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber, a buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber, and at least one tensile element wound around the buffer tube. The at least one tensile element has a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber cable also includes an exterior jacket surrounding the tensile element. The exterior jacket is made up of at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. Further, the exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: A method of preparing a flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin is provided. The method includes a step of reacting in an extrusion barrel a reactive polyolefin and a monomeric flame retardant agent to form the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin. The reactive polyolefin has a functional group including a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, epoxies, carboxylic acids, ketones, and isocyanates. The monomeric flame retardant agent has an amine functional group. The method also includes a step of extruding the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin. Also provided is a flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin that can be made according to the method. Further provided is a flame retardant cable that incorporates can incorporate the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber cable having at least one optical fiber, a cable jacket and a foam layer. The cable jacket includes an inner surface and an outer surface in which the outer surface is an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. The inner surface is disposed around the at least one optical fiber. The foam layer is disposed between the at least one optical fiber and the cable jacket. The foam layer is made of an extruded product of at least one thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a chemical foaming agent, and a crosslinking agent. The foam layer has a closed-cell morphology having pores with an average effective circle diameter of less than 100 ?m. Further, the foam layer has a compression modulus of less than 1 MPa when measured at 50% strain.

Abstract: An optical fiber drop cable. The optical fiber drop cable includes at least one optical fiber and at least one inner tensile element wound around the at least one optical fiber having a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber drop cable also includes an interior jacket disposed around the at least one inner tensile element and an exterior jacket having an inner surface and an outer surface. The optical fiber drop cable further includes at least one outer tensile element disposed between the interior jacket and the outer surface of the exterior jacket. Each of the at least one outer tensile element has a laylength of at least 1 m. The exterior jacket includes at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. The exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: Embodiments of a flame retardant composition are provided. The composition includes from 55% to 85% by weight of a blended matrix and from 15% to 45% by weight of a flame retardant package distributed within the blended matrix. The blended matrix includes a polyolefin component and a nitrogen-containing polymer component. In particular, the nitrogen-containing polymer component has a melting temperature of less than 240° C. The flame retardant package includes an acid source, a carbon source, a polyoxometalate ionic liquid, and a synergist. The flame retardant composition can be utilized in cables, such as fiber optic cables.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a polymer composition. The polymer composition includes from 0% to 80% by weight of a polyolefin component and from 20% to 100% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer component. The polymer composition has an elastic modulus of less than 1500 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis according to ASTM D4065. Further, the polymer composition has a coefficient of thermal expansion as averaged over the temperature range of ?40° C. to 25° C. of more than 120×10?6/K when measured according to ASTM E831, and the polymer composition has a thermal contraction stress of no more than 4.0 MPa at ?40° C. as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis. Additionally, embodiments of an optical fiber cable having a cable jacket made of the polymeric composition are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber, a buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber, and at least one tensile element wound around the buffer tube. The at least one tensile element has a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber cable also includes an exterior jacket surrounding the tensile element. The exterior jacket is made up of at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. Further, the exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber, a buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber, and at least one tensile element wound around the buffer tube. The at least one tensile element has a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber cable also includes an exterior jacket surrounding the tensile element. The exterior jacket is made up of at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. Further, the exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: A method of preparing a flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin is provided. The method includes a step of reacting in an extrusion barrel a reactive polyolefin and a monomeric flame retardant agent to form the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin. The reactive polyolefin has a functional group including a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, epoxies, carboxylic acids, ketones, and isocyanates. The monomeric flame retardant agent has an amine functional group. The method also includes a step of extruding the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin. Also provided is a flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin that can be made according to the method. Further provided is a flame retardant cable that incorporates can incorporate the flame retardant grafted polyolefin resin.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber, a buffer tube surrounding the at least one optical fiber, and at least one tensile element wound around the buffer tube. The at least one tensile element has a laylength of at least 200 mm. The optical fiber cable also includes an exterior jacket surrounding the tensile element. The exterior jacket is made up of at least one polyolefin, at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and at least one high aspect ratio inorganic filler. Further, the exterior jacket has an averaged coefficient of thermal expansion of no more than 120(10?6) m/mK.

Abstract: A polymer composition is provided. The polymer composition includes a polyolefin, at least 30% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer, and a filler material. When the polymer composition is formed into an article having a longitudinal axis, the polymer composition has an average coefficient of thermal expansion along a longitudinal axis of less than or equal to 150×10?6 m/mK as measured from ?40° C. to 25° C. Further, the polymer composition has an elastic modulus of less than 3000 MPa as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis (ASTM D4065), and the polymer composition has an elongation at break of greater than 200% along the longitudinal axis (measured according to ASTM D638). An article made from the polymer composition and a cable including the polymer composition are also provided.

Abstract: A polymer composition is provided. The polymer composition includes a polyolefin, at least 30% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer, and a filler material. When the polymer composition is formed into an article having a longitudinal axis, the polymer composition has an average coefficient of thermal expansion along a longitudinal axis of less than or equal to 150×10?6 m/mK as measured from ?40° C. to 25° C. Further, the polymer composition has an elastic modulus of less than 3000 MPa as measured using dynamic mechanical analysis (ASTM D4065), and the polymer composition has an elongation at break of greater than 200% along the longitudinal axis (measured according to ASTM D638). An article made from the polymer composition and a cable including the polymer composition are also provided.