Communications cable having microbial resistant water blocking provisions.

摘要

A communications cable (20) includes water blocking provisions which are microbial resistant. The water blocking provisions include a microbial resistant water blocking member (35) comprising a laminate which includes two tapes (37-37) with a superabsorbent powder (40) therebetween. Advantageously, the superabsorbent powder on contact with moisture swells to block further intrusion of moisture and to prevent its movement longitudinally within the cable. The tapes of the laminate may be non-cellulosic such as for example a spunbonded polyester material which has suitable tensile strength and which has a relatively high porosity and further which prevents the growth of fungus. An adhesive system (42) included in the laminate is sufficient to hold together the tapes and and the powder without inhibiting swelling of the powder on contact with water. <IMAGE>