Coupling system for a fiber optic cable

A fiber optic cable, comprising:

• a jacket;
• an element of the cable interior to the jacket, wherein the element is polymeric surrounds at least one glass optical fiber, the element further comprising:
• a first surface, and
• a second surface;
• a third surface interior to the jacket facing the first surface at a first interface;
• a fourth surface interior to the jacket facing the second surface at a second interface;
• a first powder integrated with at least one of the first and third surfaces at the first interface, wherein particles of the first powder are partially embedded in the at least one of the first and third surfaces, but include portions thereof that are not completely embedded and protrude beyond the at least one of the first and third surfaces;
• and
• a second powder integrated with at least one of the second and fourth surfaces at the second interface, wherein particles of the second powder are partially embedded in the at least one of the second and fourth surfaces, but include portions thereof that are not completely embedded and protrude beyond the at least one of the second and fourth surfaces,
• wherein the first and second powders are dry powders, wherein the first and second powders both comprise particles of super-absorbent polymer, wherein the particles of super-absorbent polymer of the first powder are at least twice as large, on average in volume, as the particles of super-absorbent polymer of the second powder.

A method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable, comprising steps of:

• extruding an element of the fiber optic cable;
• motivating a first powder to impact a molten surface of the element such that particles of the first powder are partially embedded in the surface but include portions thereof that are not completely embedded and protrude beyond the surface;
• extruding a cable jacket of the fiber optic cable around the element;
• motivating a second powder to impact another surface of the fiber optic cable while the another surface is molten such that particles of the second powder are partially embedded in the another surface but include portions thereof that are not completely embedded and protrude beyond the another surface;
• wherein the first and second powders are completely dry powders, wherein the first and second powders both comprise particles of super-absorbent polymer, wherein the particles of super-absorbent polymer of the first powder are at least twice as large, on average volume, as the particles of super-absorbent polymer of the second powder or vice versa.