Fibre Optic Cable Materials

The optical fibre is the transmit medium in all fibre optic cables. It is the primary element for a fibre cable. According its different specifications and how the optical fibre is produced, we can see a large variety of optical fibre, such as SM, MM.

When the fibre optic cable is constructed in multi loose tube or has large fibre count, there is a CSM (central strength member) put in the centre of the cable. All loose tube with optical fibre will stranding along with the CSM.

To ensure the mechanical and optical performance of a fibre cable in strict or harsh environment, one layer of several layers of reinforcement materials will be needed during production.

Basic protection is a steel or aluminum armouring, steel wire armouring and aramid yarn protection are common protective materials.

It is quite necessary to protect fibre cable from water damage in operations, for all underwater fibre cables and other fibre cables outdoors or in humid environment. There are mainly 3 different water-blocking materials are used in fibre optic cable.

Most of fibre optic cables are installed in ducts, underground, or hanging with an extra messenger wire. There are also fibre optic cables that can be hang on its own, and this is a supporting wire besides the cable.

Other materials such as loose tube and rip cord are also indispensable for a fully constructed fibre optic cable.

Fibre cable sheath or jacket is the outside of all fibre optic cable materials, it directly contact with the external environment. So the material of the fibre optic cable outer sheath must be able to withstand the sun and rain, and not crack due to ultraviolet radiation.

At the same time, it must have certain tensile and flexural capabilities, and can withstand the abrasion during construction and the chemical corrosion in the use engineering.