COMMUNICATIONS CABLE HAVING MICROBIAL RESISTANT WATER BLOCKING PROVISIONS

摘要

A communications cable includes water blocking provisions which aremicrobial resistant. The water blocking provisions include a microbial resistantwater blocking member comprising a laminate which includes two tapes with asuperabsorbent powder therebetween. Advantageously, the superabsorbent powderon contact with moisture swells to block further intrusion of moisture and toprevent its movement longitudinally within the cable. The tapes of the laminatemay be non-cellulosic such as for example a spunbonded polyester material whichhas suitable tensile strength and which has a relatively high porosity and furtherwhich prevents the growth of fungus. An adhesive system included in the laminateis sufficient to hold together the tapes and the powder without inhibiting swellingof the powder on contact with water.