OPTICAL FIBER ASSEMBLIES HAVING A POWDER OR POWDER BLEND AT LEAST PARTIALLY MECHANICALLY ATTACHED

摘要

A fiber optic cable includes one or more optical fibers, a jacket, strength members, and water-swellable powder. The jacket is formed from a polymer and has a cavity defined therein. The one or more optical fibers extend through the cavity. Further, the jacket is non-round in cross-section and the strength members are encapsulated in the jacket on opposite sides of the cavity. The water-swellable powder is at least partially mechanically attached to an inner surface of the cavity, where the mechanical attachment of the water-swellable powder allows a portion of particles of the water-swellable powder to protrude beyond the surface and not be completely embedded therein.