A high-density optical fiber ribbon is formed by two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers each having an outer surface and that do not individually include a protective polymer coating. A common protective coating substantially surrounds the outer surfaces of the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers so that the common protective coating is common to the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers. A fiber ribbon cable is formed by adding a cover assembly to the fiber ribbon. A fiber ribbon interconnect is formed adding one or more optical connectors to the fiber ribbon or fiber ribbon cable. Optical data transmission systems that employ the fiber ribbon to optically connect to a photonic device are also disclosed. Methods of forming the cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers and the high-density optical fiber ribbons are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a plurality of multi-fiber unit tubes. The multi-fiber unit tubes are substantially circular and dimensioned to receive a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fiber cable also includes a plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons positioned within at least one of the multi-fiber tubes. The partially bonded optical fiber ribbons are partially bonded in such a way that each partially bonded optical fiber ribbon is formed in a random shape. The partially bonded optical fiber ribbons also are partially bonded in such a way that the plurality of partially bonded optical fiber ribbons are randomly positioned within the multi-fiber unit tube. The optical fiber cable also includes a jacket surrounding the plurality of multi-fiber unit tubes.

A fiber optic cable includes a core and a binder film surrounding the core. The core includes a central strength member and core elements, such as buffer tubes containing optical fibers, where the core elements are stranded around the central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the core elements. The binder film is in radial tension around the core such that the binder film opposes outwardly transverse deflection of the core elements. Further, the binder film loads the core elements normally to the central strength member such that contact between the core elements and central strength member provides coupling there between, limiting axial migration of the core elements relative to the central strength member.

A ribbed and grooved fiber cable (100) includes a core with a plurality of optical fibers, a sheath (102) enveloping the core and one or more strength members (108) embedded in the sheath (102). The strength members (108) are coated with a water blocking coating material having at least one of an ultraviolet (UV) curable water swellable resin composition and a layer of ethylene acrylic acid (EAA). Particularly, the water blocking coating material applied over the strength members (108) has a thickness of 50±10 microns. The sheath (102) of the cable (100) has at least one of a plurality of ribs (104) and grooves (106) on an external surface of the sheath (102), and a plurality of ribs (104a) and grooves (106a) on an internal surface of the sheath (102). The plurality of ribs (104) have variable height.

Embodiments of an optical fiber cable are provided. The cable includes a cable jacket and at least one buffer tube. Each buffer tube surrounds a plurality of optical fibers. The cable jacket surrounds the at least one buffer tube. Further, a coating of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is applied to at least one of the following locations: (i) along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the plurality of optical fibers; (ii) along at least a portion of the length of the exterior or interior surface of the at least one buffer tube; or (iii) along at least a portion of the length of the interior surface of the cable jacket. Moreover, the superabsorbent, swellable hot melt is capable of absorbing at least 50 g of water per gram of superabsorbent, swellable hot melt.

Disclosed is a fire resistant, all dielectric fiber optic cable with high fiber count. The cable comprises a core including a central strength member and buffer tubes containing fibers, arranged around the central strength member. A first mica layer is arranged around the core. A glass yarn layer surrounds the first mica layer and is in direct contact therewith. A inner sheath surrounds the glass yarn layer. A second mica layer surrounds the inner sheath. An outer sheath surrounds the second mica layer. The buffer tubes contain a water-blocking filling material comprising a silicone gel, wherein said silicone gel has a drop point of at least 200° C.

Provided is a flooding composition. The flooding composition includes in weight percent (wt %) based on the weight of the composition: (A) from 1 wt % to less than 5 wt % of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder; (B) a styrene-ethylene/propylene block copolymer; and (C) a mineral oil having a kinematic viscosity from 32 cSt to 100 cSt at 40° C. Also a fiber optic cable is provided. The fiber optic cable includes a buffer tube; at least one optical fiber in the buffer tube; and the flooding composition.

The present invention is directed to water-swellable, radiation curable compositions suitable for use in coating water-blocking fibers, such as optical fibers. The present invention is further directed to fibers, including optical fibers, which are coated with water-swellable exterior coatings that are configured to buckle and detach from the associated fiber to facilitate superior performance in longitudinal water-blocking testing. Also claimed and described are methods of applying such water-swellable coatings to optical fiber coatings. Further claimed and described are buffered bundles of fibers including at least one optical fiber that is coated with a water-swellable, radiation curable coating to ensure superior longitudinal water blocking performance.

An optical fiber cable includes a central element, extending along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable, and a plurality of routable subunits, each routable subunit having a rigidly stranded ribbon stack and a tight buffer layer surrounding the ribbon stack, wherein the subunits are SZ-stranded around the central element to form a cable core. A binder film continuously and contiguously surrounds the plurality of routable subunits along the longitudinal axis and a cable sheath continuously and contiguously surrounds the binder film along the longitudinal axis, wherein the cable sheath has an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defining an elliptical shape and the outside surface defining a generally circular shape

Systems and methods are provided for applying a protective graphene barrier to waveguides and using the protected waveguides in wellbore applications. A well monitoring system may comprise a waveguide comprising a graphene barrier, wherein the graphene barrier comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of graphene, graphene oxide, and any combination thereof; a signal generator capable of generating a signal that travels through the waveguide; and a signal detector capable of detecting a signal that travels through the waveguide.