DRY BLOCKED ARMORED CABLE HAVING REDUCED WATER PENETRATION

摘要

A dry-blocked armored cable [40] having reduced water penetration includes a core [55] that extends along a longitudinal axis of the cable and includes groups of optical fibers [25]. The core is surrounded by an armor tape [300] having an inside surface that is coated with a layer of liquid polymeric material [315] that has been cured (polymerized) prior to being wrapped around the core. The polymeric material is swellable upon contact with water and operates to block the entry of water into the core. The armor tape extends along the length of the cable and includes a seam [301] where a portion of the inside surface overla ps the outside surface of the tape. A plastic jacket [41] surrounds the outside surface of the armor tape to protect the cable during handling and exposure to the environment.