An optical fiber cable is provided. The optical fiber cable includes an outer jacket having an outer surface defining an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable and an inner surface defining a central bore. The optical fiber cable includes a plurality of aramid fibers located in the central bore, and the plurality of aramid fibers have a relatively low total linear density. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber located within the central bore, and the at least one optical fiber has a proof test of greater than 100 kpsi.

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.sup.−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.

A method of treating a buffered optical fiber or jacketed cable having a relatively low surface energy, e.g., fibers or cables that meet low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) standards, so they can be bonded to a supporting substrate at a customer premises by a water soluble, non-flammable adhesive. One or more burners produce a flame that treats the surface of the fiber or cable by oxidizing the surface as the fiber or cable moves past the burners. The surface energy increases enough for the adhesive to wet the surface so that, when cured, the adhesive bonds the fiber or cable to the supporting substrate. In another embodiment, a blown-ion discharge is directed at a determined rate over the surface of the fiber or cable, thereby treating the surface by removing contamination and micro-etching, and increasing the surface energy enough for the adhesive to wet the surface.

An indoor cable is composed of an optical fiber core, tension members, an outer sheath, and so forth. The optical fiber core and the tension members are integrated by the outer sheath. The outer sheath is composed of a transparent material. The optical fiber core includes a glass wire and a resin coating (a primary resin layer and a secondary resin layer). The optical fiber core does not have a colored layer that is conventionally formed on the outer periphery of the resin coating layer. That is, the optical fiber core is composed entirely of transparent materials. On both sides of the optical fiber core, separate from the optical fiber core, is arranged a pair of tension members. The tension members are composed of transparent materials.

Polymeric coated optical elements are described herein, which exhibit good optical properties, e.g., low attenuation. Some such coated optical elements comprise an optical element (e.g., an optical fiber) having an outer surface and a thermoplastic polymeric tight buffer coating on at least a portion of the outer surface of the optical element, wherein the polymer-coated optical element exhibits a first attenuation at room temperature of plus or minus about 50% the attenuation of a comparable optical element with no thermoplastic polymeric tight buffer coating thereon, and a second attenuation at room temperature after thermal cycling to a temperature of at least 170° C. that is about 2 times the first attenuation or less.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a subunit having a first interior surface and a first exterior surface. The first interior surface defines a central bore along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. At least one optical fiber is disposed within the central bore of the subunit, and a plurality of strengthening yarns is disposed around the subunit. A cable sheath disposed around the plurality of strengthening yarns. The cable sheath has a second interior surface and a second exterior surface. The second exterior surface defines an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. The cable sheath includes from 55% to 68% by weight of a mineral-based flame retardant additive and from 35% to 45% by weight of a polymer blend. The polymer blend includes a co-polyester or co-polyether and a polyolefin or a polyolefin elastomer.

Disclosed are structures and methods for active optic cable (AOC) assembly having improved thermal characteristics. In one embodiment, an AOC assembly includes a fiber optic cable having a first end attached to a connector with a thermal insert attached to the housing for dissipating heat from the connector. The AOC assembly can dissipate a suitable heat transfer rate from the active components of the connector such as dissipating a heat transfer rate of 0.75 Watts or greater from the connector. In one embodiment, the thermal insert is at least partially disposed under the boot of the connector. In another embodiment, at least one component of the connector has a plurality of fins. Other AOC assemblies may include a connector having a pull tab for dissipating heat from the assembly.

A fire resistant cable comprising: at least one conducting element; at least one layer, surrounding said conducting element, made of a ceramifiable composition comprising: a polymeric material comprising an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer as main polymer; at least 25 wt % of silica; a fluxing agent selected from alkaline metal oxides or precursors thereof; a stabilizing agent comprising at least one of MgO, CaO, PbO, B2O3, or a precursor thereof; from 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of a hydroxide selected from magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide and mixtures thereof; the above percentages being expressed with respect to the weight of the ceramifiable composition. Upon exposure to elevated temperatures such as those encountered in case of fire, the ceramifiable composition is transformed into a ceramic material capable of protecting the conducting element from fire and mechanical stresses. The fire resistant cable of the present invention can continue operating under fire conditions for a certain period of time.

Methods for providing flammability protection for plastic optical fiber (POF) embedded inside avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) or other equipment used in airborne vehicles such as commercial or fighter aircrafts. A thin and flexible flammability protection tube is placed around the POF. In one proposed implementation, a very thin (100 to 250 microns in wall thickness) polyimide tube is placed outside and around the POF cable embedded inside an LRU or other equipment. The thin-walled polyimide tube does not diminish the flexibility of the POF cable.

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. One or more embodiments of the cables described herein have improved bending characteristics and performances, respond positively to thermal cycling tests, provide improved anti-buckling characteristics, and have a reduced production cost compared to other known cables.