Flexible thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers for buffering transmission elements in a telecommunications cable

摘要

A telecommunications cable element (10) having an optical fiber transmission element (12) disposed in a buffer tube (14) made from thermoplastic polyolefin elastomeric buffer material is disclosed. The polyolefin elastomeric buffer material has a modulus of elasticity below about 500 MPa at room temperature and a modulus of elasticity below about 1500 MPa at -40 DEG C. Preferentially, the thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer material forming the buffer tube has an elongation to break below about 500% and a Melt Flow Index above about 3. <IMAGE>