Water swellable semi-conductive tape

A water-resistant cable, comprising:

• a conductor;
• and
• a water swellable semi-conductive material placed in connection with the conductor, the water swellable semi-conductive material comprising:
• a substrate having first and second opposing faces;
• first and second semi-conductive coatings positioned on opposing faces of the woven substrate;
• and
• a semi-conductive water swellable polymeric layer positioned on an outer surface of one of the first or second semi-conductive coatings, the semi-conductive water swellable polymeric layer comprising conductive particles dispersed within a superabsorbent polymeric matrix, wherein the conductive particles comprise carbon black particles having a particle mesh of about 0.06 mm to about 0.25 mm.

A method of making a water swellable semi-conductive material, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• applying a semi-conductive coating to the substrate to form a semi-conductive substrate;
• applying an aqueous composition comprising an acrylate polymer or acrylate pre-polymer and conductive particles to the semi-conductive substrate;
• and
• drying the aqueous composition on the semi-conductive substrate and cross-linking the acrylate polymer or acrylate pre-polymer to form a semi-conductive water swellable polymeric layer positioned on the semi-conductive substrate, wherein the semi-conductive water swellable polymeric layer is comprised of a crosslinked superabsorbent polymer matrix having conductive particles dispersed therein, wherein the conductive particles comprise carbon black particles having a particle mesh of about 0.06 mm to about 0.25 mm.