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.

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cable that includes a plurality of internal optical fibers and a fiber optic cable portion. The fiber optic cable portion includes an outer jacket and an inner conduit, the inner conduit containing the plurality of optical fibers disposed therein. The fiber optic cable further includes a flexible conduit portion, wherein the flexible conduit portion has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is secured to the fiber optic cable portion and the distal end has a terminating device. The terminating device at least partially encases the flexible conduit portion, and the plurality of optical fibers passes through the flexible conduit portion and the terminating device.

An optical fiber cable includes a plurality of optical fibers, a plurality of water-absorbent fibers, and a sheath covering a periphery of the plurality of optical fibers and the plurality of water-absorbent fibers. A ratio of areas of the water-absorbent fibers to an area of an accommodating portion in an inner side of the sheath in a cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable is 1% or more and 5% or less, and a maximum value of an area of a gap portion surrounded by the optical fibers in the cross section is 1.0 mm.sup.2 or less.

The present invention relates to an optical fibre cable (100, 200) with a sheath (106) surrounding one or more tubes (104) and one or more strength members (108) partially embedded in the sheath (106). Each of the one or more tubes (104) encloses at least one optical fiber (102) having a diameter of 200±20 um. In particular, one or more tubes (104) has a tube length greater than a cable length. Moreover, the one or more tubes (104) has a young's modulus of less than or equal to 700 N and a lay-length of equal to or more than 400 mm. Further, the optical fiber cable (100, 200) breaks at a pre-defined load.

An optical fiber cable includes optical fiber ribbons and a sheath covering a periphery of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons. Each of the optical fiber ribbon includes optical fibers, and a connected portion and a non-connected portion are intermittently provided in the longitudinal direction. Each optical fiber includes a glass fiber and a coating portion. A ratio of an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the sheath is 0.75 or more. A ratio of a total area of glasses in an optical fiber ribbon accommodating portion to an area of the optical fiber ribbon accommodating portion is 15% or more and 25% or less, the number of the optical fibers in the optical fiber cable is 3000 or more, and the outer diameter of the sheath is 50 mm or less.

A fiber optic cable in the present disclosure comprises: an outer tube having an inner surface and an outer surface; a fiber in metal tube (FIMT) comprising one or more optical fibers, wherein the FIMT is disposed within the outer tube, and wherein the outer surface of the FIMT and the inner surface of the outer tube form an annular space; and a cured gelling material in the annular space. By incorporating the cured gelling material into the annular space, fluid migration through the annular space can be reduced, and sheer stress for strain coupling of the FIMT and the outer tube can be increased.

An oil gel compositions comprising (i) between 10 to 20 wt. % of a selectively hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer, (ii) an oil, and (iii) optional additives is described herein. In embodiments, the oil gel composition is characterized as having, a viscosity at 25° C. and 10/s between 100 (See claim 2) and 200 Pa-s, a cone penetration at 25° C. from 200 dmm to 600 dmm, a drop point from 100 to 250° C., and oil separation at 100° C. from 0% to 2%. In embodiments, the oil gel composition has a viscosity ratio of 25° C./100° C. from 4 to 20 at 10/s shear rate. The oil gel composition can be used in cables for post tensioning applications.

Gel compositions for filling cables, such as communication cables, in particular gel compositions containing microspheres, cables containing said gels, and methods of preparing such gels.

A fiber optic cable includes a tube, a stack of fiber optic ribbons twisting along a lengthwise axis through the tube, a support, and water-blocking tape positioned at least partially around the stack, between the stack and the tube. The support and water-blocking tape provide an elevated portion of the water-blocking tape that is raised. As the stack twists along the lengthwise axis of the tube, corners of the stack interface with the elevated portion to provide intermittent frictional coupling between the stack and the tube.

The present disclosure provides an optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a central strength member. The central strength member lies substantially along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes at least one buffer tube. The at least one buffer tube is stranded helically around the central strength member. Each of the at least one buffer tube encapsulates at least one optical fiber. The optical fiber cable includes a first layer. The first layer circumferentially surrounds a core of the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable includes a second layer. The second layer is formed of high density polyethylene. The optical fiber cable includes at least one set of water swellable yarn and a plurality of ripcords.