Composite service and distribution communications media

A composite optical fiber, metallic conductor cable, which comprises:

• a core which comprises:
• at least one reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:
• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system comprising a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said at least one optical fiber and being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression, wherein said strength member system includes three impregnated fiber glass strength members each having a cross section which includes two generally parallel sides which are joined at their ends by arcuate portions, each strength member being adjacent to said optical fiber to form a triangular array and wherein jacket touches generally the spices of the triangular array;
• and
• a jacket which is made to plastic material and which encloses said strength members;
• and
• at least one metallic conductor;
• and
• a sheath system which encloses said at least one optical fiber unit and said at least one metallic conductor and which includes an outer plastic jacket.

A composite optical fiber, metallic conductor cable, which comprises:

• a core which comprises:
• at least one reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:
• at least one optical fiber;
• a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said at least one optical fiber and being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression;
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and which encloses said strength members;
• and
• a waterblocking material which is disposed within said jacket to fill interstices between said jacket and said strength members and between the strength members and said optical fiber, wherein said waterblocking material is a composition of matter which comprises about 91.4 to 95% by weight of an oil selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) paraffinic oil having a mimimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than -4.degree. C. and being of ASTM type 103, 104A or 104B;
• (b) naphthenic oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than -4.degree. C. and being of ASTM type 103, 104A or 104B;
• (c) polybutene oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.83 and a pour point less than 18.degree. C.;
• and
• (d) any mixture thereof, and wherein said composition of matter also includes about 6 to 8.5% by weight colloidal particles selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic fumed silica, hydrophilic fumed silica, precipitated silica and clay, the colloidal particles having a BET surface area in the range from about 50 to about 400 m.sup.2 ;
• at least one metallic conductor;
• and
• a sheath system which encloses said at least one optical fiber unit and said at least one metallic conductor and which includes an outer plastic jacket encloses the strength members.

An optical fiber cable, which comprises:

• a core which comprises at least one reinforced optical fiber unit, said at least one reinforced optical fiber unit comprising:
• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system including a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said optical fiber without the intervention of any other solid member between said optical fiber and said strength member system while being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression;
• and
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and which encloses said strength members;
• and
• a sheath system which encloses said at least one reinforced optical fiber unit and which includes an outer plastic jacket.

A reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:

• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system including a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said optical fiber without the intervention of another solid member between said optical fiber and said strength member system while being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression;
• and
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and which encloses the strength members.

A reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:

• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system including a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said optical fiber while being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression, wherein said strength member system include three inpregnated fiber glass strength members each having a cross section which includes two generally parallel sides which are jointed at their ends by arcurate portions, each strength member being positioned with respect to said optical fiber to form a triangular array;
• and
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and encloses the strength member.

A reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:

• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system including a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said optical fiber while being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength and to provide columnar strength which resists compression;
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and which encloses the strength members;
• and
• a waterblocking material which is disposed within said jacket to fill interstices between said jacket and said strength members and between the strength members and the optical fiber;
• wherein said waterblocking material is a composition of matter which comprises about 91.4 to 94% by weight of an oil selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) paraffinic oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than -4.degree. C. and being of ASTM type 103, 104A or 104B;
• (b) naphthenic oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than and being of ASTM type 103, 104A or 104B;
• (c) polybutene oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.83 and a pour point less than
• (d) any mixture thereof, and wherein said composition also includes about 6.9 to 7.1% by weight of hydrophobic fumed silica colloidal particles.

A reinforced optical fiber unit, which comprises:

• at least one optical fiber;
• a strength member system including a plurality of discrete impregnated fibrous strength members which cooperate to enclose said optical fiber while being decoupled therefrom to provide tensile strength an to provide columnar strength which resists compression:
• a jacket which is made of plastic material and which encloses the strength members;
• and
• a waterblocking material which is disposed within said jacket to fill interstices between said jacket and said strength members and between the strength members and the optical fibers, wherein said waterblocking material is a composition of matter which comprises:
• (a) about 92.8 to 93% by weight of an oil selected from the group consisting of:
• i. paraffinic oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than -4.degree. C. and being of ASTM type 103, 104A, or 104B;
• ii. naphthenic oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.86 and a pour point less than -4.degree. C. and being of ASTM type 103, 104A, or 104B;
• iii. polybutene oil having a minimum specific gravity of about 0.83 and a pour point of less than 18.degree. C.;
• iv. triglyceride-based vegetable oil;
• v. polypropylene oil;
• vi. chlorinated paraffin oil having a chlorine content between about 30 and 75% by weight and a viscosity of 25.degree. C. of between 100 and 10,000 cps;
• vii. polymerized esters, and
• viii. any mixture thereof;
• and
• (b) about 0.1% by weight of an antioxidant stabilizer.