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The Mechanical Properties of Thixotropic Gels and their Effect on Attenuation in Optical Fiber Communication Cables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Carl R. Taylor
Affiliation:
AT&T Bell Laboratories, 2000 Northeast Expressway, Norcross, Georgia 30071
Bob J. Overton
Affiliation:
AT&T Bell Laboratories, 2000 Northeast Expressway, Norcross, Georgia 30071
Ching Fang Tu
Affiliation:
AT&T Bell Laboratories, 2000 Northeast Expressway, Norcross, Georgia 30071
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Abstract

Fumed silica/oil gels exhibiting rheological properties characterized by a yield stress followed by shear thinning behavior have been studied for application as waterblocking filling compounds for fiber optic cable. It is found that added signal attenuation in optical fibers after processing into a filled fiber optic ribbon cable is a function of the yield stress of the filling gel. We derive experimentally and apply a model of the relationship to formulate an optimum fumed silica/oil filling gel for fiber optic ribbon cables.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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References

REFERENCES

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