Innovative Material for Fibre Optic Cable: Get the Right Performance & Benefit from Consistent Viscosity

Fiber optic cable manufacturers typically use a polymer tube to encase the optical fiber. The tube serves as a hydrolytically stable, stiff, durable shell, protecting the delicate glass fiber while allowing some movement of the optical fiber in the cable. The tube material must protect the glass fiber from chemicals, moisture and excessive flexural attack.

The buffer tube required a material which was high quality, consistent, uniform, and reasonably easy to process. It had to pass specifications which included bending, hydrolytic stability and elongation testing.

To meet the required performances and material specifications, Ticona has modified the commercially available PBT polymer and produced a new grade, Celanex® 2001 PBT, with improved hydrolytic stability. This was done without incorporating additives, thus the material retains its elongation and good general mechanical properties. In addition, the viscosity of the polymer was held to tight tolerances resulting in excellent processing uniformity [Figure 1]. The stability of the polymer melt offers the processor flexibility as well as increased productivity.