Loose Tube Fiber Cable

Fiber optic cables are constructed in two ways.

Loose tube fiber cable.

Each however is designed for very different environments. Loose tube cables the older of the two cable types are specifically designed for harsh outdoor environments. The gel within the loose tube construction stops the penetration of water and keeps it away from the fiber. The armoured loose tube cable is available with various constructions.

This group of cable will come in many constructions deploying various jacketing materials and armour. Loose tube and tight buffered. They protect the fiber core cladding and coating by enclosing everything within semi rigid protective sleeves or tubes. But there are two basic styles of fiber optic cable construction.

Both contain a type of strengthening member such as aramid yarn stainless steel wire strands or gel filled sleeves. Loose tube cables whether flooded under the jacket or water blocked with dry swellable materials protect the fibers from moisture and the long term degradation moisture can cause. The configuration of loose tube cable comprises of a coated fiber placed within a loose tube which is filled with water resistant gel to protect fiber from tension and stresses caused by such harsh environment as moisture and a wide operation temperature range from thermal shock to ice loading. Fiber optic cable is available in many physical variations such as single and multiple conductor constructions aerial and direct burial styles plenum and riser cables etc.

Loose tube fiber and tight buffered fiber. Loose tube cables are optimized for outdoor applications. Loose tube fiber cable will consist optical fibers in its construction. These constructions will comprise of armouring to protect the optical fibers such as corrugated steel tape steel wire armouring steel wire braiding and others.

From the picture below we can see that loose tube fiber holds more than one optical fiber each individually. The global source for fiber optic products and solutions.