WATER BLOCKING OPTICAL CABLE REINFORCEMENT

摘要

An optical cable reinforcement in the form of glass fiber strands (30) hav- ing a first coating (32) of a binding agent such as a latex mixture and a sec- and coating (34) of particles (36) of a water-blocking agent such as a polyacry- late salt. The particles (36) of water- blocking agent are adhered to the glass fiber strands (30) by the binding agent without the binding agent entirely coat- ing the particles of water-blocking agent. The unoccluded surface areas of water- blocking agent thus provided serve to rapidly absorb/desorb water and protect The optical cable from moisture. A unique powder coating station (60) is used to apply the particles (36) of water-blocking agent to glass fiber strands (30) which have been coated with wet binding agent so that the proper adherence of the particles (36) of water-blocking agent without complete embodiment is obtained.