Due to the fear of moisture and water in optical fibers, it is required that optical cables must have good waterproof performance. Waterproofing is divided into horizontal and vertical waterproofing. Horizontal waterproofing is mainly used to prevent water from entering the optical cable once the outer sheath is damaged, while vertical waterproofing is used to prevent water from penetrating along the cable for a long distance after it is cut, causing difficulty in repair.
Horizontal waterproofing
Horizontal waterproofing mainly includes the following measures: filling the loose tube with grease, filling the cable core with grease, longitudinal wrapping of aluminum and steel strips. For longitudinal waterproofing, in addition to filling the loose sleeve and cable core with grease, water blocking rings are used to seal the cables wrapped in steel strips longitudinally. These measures effectively prevent water intrusion.
The waterproof and moisture-proof performance of optical cables is mainly provided by the following methods.
Waterproof ointment
Used to fill the gap between the protective layer of the optical cable and the optical fiber to prevent moisture infiltration.
Protective layer
The outermost protective layer of an optical cable, usually made of materials such as polyethylene or polyurethane, with good waterproof performance.
Aluminum plastic bonding sheath: One of the sheath materials, which improves the waterproof performance of the sheath through aluminum-plastic bonding technology.
Steel plastic bonding sheath
One of the sheath materials, which improves the waterproof performance of the sheath through steel plastic bonding technology.
These structural designs work together to ensure that the optical cable can operate stably in damp or water immersed environments