Water Blocking Coated Steel For Armored Fiber Optical Cable

摘要

Two new water blocking steel (WBS) products were developed for use as a component in dry designs of fiber optical cables. One product is two-side coated with the conventional coating on one side and a new water swellable coating on the other. The conventional coating faces the jacket and facilitates the manufacture of bonded or laminate sheath cables. The water swellable coating on the steel faces the core tube or the inner jacket over a loose tube construction and replaces conventional water swellable materials used in the armor-core interface. If water should enter the cable, the coating on the steel swells to block the continued flow of water. The second product has the water blocking coating on both sides. It is used to replace water swellable powders in the jacket-armor interface and provide a water block for strength members embedded in the jacket and in contact with the armor. The side facing the core is used to replace conventional water swellable materials.