GB2144878A - Optical cables - Google Patents

Optical cables Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2144878A
GB2144878A GB08419847A GB8419847A GB2144878A GB 2144878 A GB2144878 A GB 2144878A GB 08419847 A GB08419847 A GB 08419847A GB 8419847 A GB8419847 A GB 8419847A GB 2144878 A GB2144878 A GB 2144878A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
hydrogen
optical
optical cable
optical fibre
resistant coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08419847A
Other versions
GB8419847D0 (en
Inventor
Olive Lucy Drage
Martin Graham Nutton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Balfour Beatty PLC
Original Assignee
BICC PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BICC PLC filed Critical BICC PLC
Publication of GB8419847D0 publication Critical patent/GB8419847D0/en
Publication of GB2144878A publication Critical patent/GB2144878A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B7/00—Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
    • H01B7/17—Protection against damage caused by external factors, e.g. sheaths or armouring
    • H01B7/28—Protection against damage caused by moisture, corrosion, chemical attack or weather
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4415—Cables for special applications
    • G02B6/4427—Pressure resistant cables, e.g. undersea cables
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
    • G02B6/44382—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising hydrogen absorbing materials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
    • G02B6/44384—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

To reduce migration of hydrogen into an optical fibre of an optical cable which might otherwise have a detrimental effect on the optical transmission efficiency of the optical fibre, the or each optical fibre (1) has an overall continuous coating of a material (5) which will act as a barrier to the ingress of hydrogen. The hydrogen-resistant coating may be of a metal or metal alloy of a closely-packed crystal structure (eg copper. gold, tin etc), or it may be of a non-metallic material (eg silicon oxynitride). <IMAGE>

Description

1
GB2 144 878A
1
SPECIFICATION Optical cables
5 This invention relates to optical cables comprising at least one optical fibre and is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with optical cables in which at least one optical fibre is loosely housed in a bore or other 10 elongate compartment which extends throughout the length of the optical cable and which has an internal diameter substantially greater than the overall diameter of the or each optical fibre.
1 5 We have found that, in some circumstances, ageing of an optical fibre or optical fibres of an optical cable can occur to such an extent that the optical transmission efficiency of the optical fibre is detrimentally affected; 20 such ageing may occur whilst the optical cable is in store and before it is installed and/or whilst the optical cable is in service. It is believed that a principal cause of ageing of an optical fibre is migration of hydrogen into 25 the optical fibre to an extent sufficient to have a detrimental effect on the optical transmission efficiency of the optical fibre. Insofar as multi-mode optical fibres are concerned, hydrogen migration throught the cladding into 30 the core of an optical fibre will have a detrimental effect on the transmission efficiency of the optical fibre; in the case of single mode optical fibre, migration of hydrogen into the cladding only of the optical fibre may be 35 sufficient to affect detrimentally its transmission efficiency.
It is believed that hydrogen that has migrated into an optical fibre or optical fibres of an optical cable may be evolved from any one 40 or more of several sources. It is the normal practice to apply a buffer coating of acrylic resin or other resin or of polymeric material to the glass surface of an optical fibre and one of the most likely sources of hydrogen is be-45 lieved to be a hydrogen-producing reaction which occurs on the glass surface of the optical fibre, possibly between moisture on the glass surface and a constituent of the resin or polymeric material of the buffer coat-50 ing which, in some circumstances, may not have been completely cured. Moisture on the surface of a buffer-coated optical fibre may also result from the use, during manufacture of the optical cable, of a hygroscopic dusting 55 powder applied to the optical fibre. Other possible sources of hydrogen are those components or materials of or within the optical cable which themselves contain hydrogen or from from a reaction with which, during the 60 course of time, hydrogen may be evolved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved optical cable in which the risk of ageing of an optical fibre or optical fibres of the optical cable whilst the optical 65 cable is in store and/or is in service as a result of migration of hydrogen into the optical fibre or fibres is substantially reduced.
According to the invention, in the improved optical cable the or each optical fibre has an overall continuous coating of a material which will act as a barrier to the ingress of hydrogen.
This hydrogen-resistant coating may replace the buffer coating of an optical fibre or it may underlie the buffer coating.
The hydrogen-resistant coating may be of a metal or metal alloy of a closely-packed crystal, structure; examples of suitable metals include copper, gallium, gold and tin. Alternatively, the hydrogen-resistant coating may be of a non-metallic material; examples of suitable non-metallic materials include multi-component glass and, as suggested by K.J. Beales et al of British Telecom (Paper WI5) at the Conference of Optical Fibre Communications held in New Orleans in January 1984, silicon oxynitride.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred optical cable with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the cable on an enlarged scale.
Referring to the drawing, the optical cable comprises a tube 3 of plastics material having a bore 2 in which an optical fibre 1 is loosely housed. The optical fibre 1 has a buffer coating 4 of acrylic resin and, underlying the buffer coating, a continuous coating of silicon oxynitride which will act as a barrier to the ingress of hydrogen.
The invention has especial, but not exclusive, application to submarine optical cables where evolvement of hydrogen is of particular concern.

Claims (11)

1. An optical cable comprising at least one optical fibre, wherein the or each optical fibre has an overall continuous coating of a material which will act as a barrier to the ingress of hydrogen.
2. An optical cable comprising at least one optical fibre and, surrounding the optical fibre, a buffer coating of resin, wherein the or each optical fibre has, underlying the buffer coating, an overall continuous coating of a material which will act as a barrier to the ingress of hydrogen.
3. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is of a metal or metal alloy of a closely-packed crystal structure.
4. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is copper.
5. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is gallium.
6. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1
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2
GB2144 878A
2
or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is gold.
7. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating
5 is tin.
8. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is of a non-metallic material.
9. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 8, 10 wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is a multi-component glass.
10. An optical cable as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the hydrogen-resistant coating is of silicon oxynitride.
15
11. An optical cable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
Printed in the United Kingdom for
Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Dd 8818935. 1985. 4235. Published at The Patent Office. 25 Southampton Buildings,
London, WC2A 1AY. from which copies may be obtained.
GB08419847A 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables Withdrawn GB2144878A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB838321229A GB8321229D0 (en) 1983-08-05 1983-08-05 Optical cables

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8419847D0 GB8419847D0 (en) 1984-09-05
GB2144878A true GB2144878A (en) 1985-03-13

Family

ID=10546919

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB838321229A Pending GB8321229D0 (en) 1983-08-05 1983-08-05 Optical cables
GB08419848A Expired GB2144879B (en) 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables
GB08419847A Withdrawn GB2144878A (en) 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables
GB08419846A Expired GB2144559B (en) 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB838321229A Pending GB8321229D0 (en) 1983-08-05 1983-08-05 Optical cables
GB08419848A Expired GB2144879B (en) 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08419846A Expired GB2144559B (en) 1983-08-05 1984-08-03 Optical cables

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (4) GB8321229D0 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2156858A (en) * 1984-01-16 1985-10-16 Gen Electric Plc Coating optical fibres with hydrogen-impermeable material
FR2563634A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Pirelli Cavi Spa OPTICAL FIBER PROTECTED AGAINST THE ABSORPTION OF HYDROGEN GASES
FR2563635A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Pirelli Cavi Spa OPTICAL FIBER CABLE WITH PROTECTION AGAINST THE ABSORPTION OF GASEOUS HYDROGEN BY OPTICAL FIBERS
GB2159290A (en) * 1984-05-22 1985-11-27 Stc Plc Cables containing amorphous metals
GB2172410A (en) * 1985-03-13 1986-09-17 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical fibre cable containing hydrogen trapping powder
US4696543A (en) * 1984-05-22 1987-09-29 Standard Telephone And Cables, Plc Optical fiber cable having a low permeability to hydrogen
US4717236A (en) * 1984-05-18 1988-01-05 Stc, Plc Optical fiber cable having a hydrogen-absorbing zeolite
US4725123A (en) * 1985-10-08 1988-02-16 Societa' Cavi Pirelli S.P.A. Hydrogen absorbing mixture for optical fiber cables and cables containing such mixture
US4787707A (en) * 1984-04-16 1988-11-29 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Composite overhead transmission cable
WO2001046736A1 (en) * 1999-12-22 2001-06-28 Alcatel Optical fibre and fibre-optic cable comprising at least one intermetallic element that absorbs hydrogen

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8413189D0 (en) * 1984-05-23 1984-06-27 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical fibre cables
IT1184428B (en) * 1985-04-12 1987-10-28 Pirelli Cavi Spa HYDROGEN ABSORBENT COMPOSITION FOR CABLES AND ELECTRIC CABLES, FIBER OPTIC CABLES AND THEIR INCORPORATING COMPONENTS SAID COMPOSITION
IT1185667B (en) * 1985-08-30 1987-11-12 Pirelli Cavi Spa FIBER OPTIC TELECOMMUNICATION CABLE
US4974926A (en) * 1989-04-06 1990-12-04 At&T Bell Laboratories Underwater optical fiber cable
DE4108032A1 (en) * 1991-03-13 1992-09-17 Bayer Ag PALLADIUM-CONTAINING POLYMER COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
IT1264902B1 (en) * 1993-06-29 1996-10-17 Pirelli Cavi Spa HYDROGEN-ABSORBENT COMPOSITION FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLES AND FIBER OPTIC CABLE INCLUDING THE ABOVE COMPOSITION
NO985601L (en) 1998-11-30 2000-05-31 Abb Kraft As Device by cable
FR2811242B1 (en) * 2000-07-05 2003-02-14 Seppic Sa NOVEL HYDROGEN ABSORBING COMPOSITION FOR ITS PREPARATION AND USE AS A FILLING COMPOSITION FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLES
US20040109652A1 (en) * 2002-12-04 2004-06-10 Alcatel Fiber optic cables with a hydrogen absorbing material
US20050236161A1 (en) * 2004-04-23 2005-10-27 Michael Gay Optical fiber equipped tubing and methods of making and using
US8213756B2 (en) 2006-10-24 2012-07-03 Afl Telecommunications Llc Breathable downhole fiber optic cable and a method of restoring performance

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0034670A1 (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-09-02 The Post Office A glass optical fibre and a method of coating a plastic coated glass fibre with metal
WO1982001365A1 (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-04-29 Aircraft Co Hughes Metallic clad fiber optical waveguide
WO1982001543A1 (en) * 1980-11-03 1982-05-13 Aircraft Co Hughes Multiply coated metallic clad fiber optical waveguide
GB2101392A (en) * 1981-04-23 1983-01-12 Bicc Plc An electric and/or optical cable
GB2101798A (en) * 1981-04-23 1983-01-19 Bicc Plc Electric cable
GB2107458A (en) * 1981-10-09 1983-04-27 Honda Motor Co Ltd Flexible tying member for an antitheft device
GB2122370A (en) * 1982-05-28 1984-01-11 Ass Elect Ind Mineral insulated electric cable

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2946027C2 (en) * 1979-11-14 1982-05-06 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Longitudinally watertight fiber optic cable and process for its manufacture
GB2114114A (en) * 1982-01-25 1983-08-17 Chloride Silent Power Ltd Beta-alumina electrolyte material
GB2114771B (en) * 1982-02-15 1985-07-31 Bicc Plc Optical cable manufacture
GB2105865B (en) * 1982-07-09 1985-08-07 Philips Nv Optical communication cable having a light wave guide and a tensile secondary coating

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0034670A1 (en) * 1980-02-12 1981-09-02 The Post Office A glass optical fibre and a method of coating a plastic coated glass fibre with metal
WO1982001365A1 (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-04-29 Aircraft Co Hughes Metallic clad fiber optical waveguide
WO1982001543A1 (en) * 1980-11-03 1982-05-13 Aircraft Co Hughes Multiply coated metallic clad fiber optical waveguide
GB2101392A (en) * 1981-04-23 1983-01-12 Bicc Plc An electric and/or optical cable
GB2101798A (en) * 1981-04-23 1983-01-19 Bicc Plc Electric cable
GB2107458A (en) * 1981-10-09 1983-04-27 Honda Motor Co Ltd Flexible tying member for an antitheft device
GB2122370A (en) * 1982-05-28 1984-01-11 Ass Elect Ind Mineral insulated electric cable

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2156858A (en) * 1984-01-16 1985-10-16 Gen Electric Plc Coating optical fibres with hydrogen-impermeable material
US4787707A (en) * 1984-04-16 1988-11-29 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Composite overhead transmission cable
FR2563634A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Pirelli Cavi Spa OPTICAL FIBER PROTECTED AGAINST THE ABSORPTION OF HYDROGEN GASES
FR2563635A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Pirelli Cavi Spa OPTICAL FIBER CABLE WITH PROTECTION AGAINST THE ABSORPTION OF GASEOUS HYDROGEN BY OPTICAL FIBERS
GB2158263A (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-11-06 Pirelli Cavi Spa Optical fibre
GB2158264A (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-11-06 Pirelli Cavi Spa Optical fibre cable
US4717236A (en) * 1984-05-18 1988-01-05 Stc, Plc Optical fiber cable having a hydrogen-absorbing zeolite
GB2159290A (en) * 1984-05-22 1985-11-27 Stc Plc Cables containing amorphous metals
US4696543A (en) * 1984-05-22 1987-09-29 Standard Telephone And Cables, Plc Optical fiber cable having a low permeability to hydrogen
GB2172410A (en) * 1985-03-13 1986-09-17 Telephone Cables Ltd Optical fibre cable containing hydrogen trapping powder
US4725123A (en) * 1985-10-08 1988-02-16 Societa' Cavi Pirelli S.P.A. Hydrogen absorbing mixture for optical fiber cables and cables containing such mixture
WO2001046736A1 (en) * 1999-12-22 2001-06-28 Alcatel Optical fibre and fibre-optic cable comprising at least one intermetallic element that absorbs hydrogen
FR2803045A1 (en) * 1999-12-22 2001-06-29 Cit Alcatel Optical fiber has guide part surrounded by coating(s) including intermetallic crystalline compound
US6597850B2 (en) 1999-12-22 2003-07-22 Alcatel Optical fiber and fibre-optic cable comprising at least one intermetallic element that absorbs hydrogen
CN100504480C (en) * 1999-12-22 2009-06-24 阿尔卡塔尔公司 Optical fibre and fibre-optic cable comprising at least one intermetallic element that absorbs hydrogen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2144879A (en) 1985-03-13
GB2144559B (en) 1987-07-01
GB8419846D0 (en) 1984-09-05
GB2144879B (en) 1986-02-26
GB8321229D0 (en) 1983-09-07
GB8419848D0 (en) 1984-09-05
GB8419847D0 (en) 1984-09-05
GB2144559A (en) 1985-03-06

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)