Electrical cable having a surface with reduced coefficient of friction

A method of manufacturing a finished electrical cable having a conductor core and an outermost sheath of thermoplastic material surrounding at least the conductor core and defining the exterior surface of the finished cable, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a supply of thermoplastic material;
• (b) introducing sufficient lubricant into said thermoplastic material to provide a reduced coefficient of friction of said exterior surface of said outermost sheath at the time of the installation of the finished cable through passageways of building structures, said lubricant being of a type which either migrates through, or permeates, the thermoplastic material, to be available at said exterior surface of the cable at the time of its installation;
• (c) extruding the so-lubricated thermoplastic material to surround at least the conductor core;
• and
• (d) thereafter cooling the extruded material to form the said outermost sheath, the lubricant remaining within said sheath after said cooling.

A method of manufacturing a finished electrical cable of the type having a conductor core, and at least two sheaths surrounding at least the conductor core, an inner sheath of a first material, and an outermost sheath of a second material different than said first material, the outermost sheath defining the exterior surface of the finished cable, said method comprising:

• (a) forming said inner sheath of said first material;
• (b) introducing a lubricant into the said second material sufficient to provide a reduced coefficient of friction of the exterior surface of said outermost sheath and reduce the amount of force required to pull the cable during its installation, said lubricant being of a type which either migrates through, or permeates, said second material, to be available at said exterior surface of the cable at the time of its installation;
• (c) extruding said so-lubricated material to surround at least said conductor core;
• and
• (d) thereafter cooling said extruded material to form said outermost sheath.

A method of manufacturing a finished electrical cable of the type having a conductor core, and at least two sheaths surrounding at least the conductor core, an inner sheath of a first material, and an outermost sheath of a second material different than said first material, the outermost sheath defining the exterior surface of the finished cable, said method comprising:

• (a) forming said inner sheath of said first material;
• (b) introducing a lubricant into the said second material sufficient to provide a reduced coefficient of friction of the exterior surface of said outermost sheath at the time of installation of the finished cable, thereby to reduce the amount of force required to pull the cable and increase the resistance to cable burn-through during its installation, said lubricant being of a type which either migrates through, or permeates, said second material, to be available at said exterior surface of the cable at the time of its installation;
• and
• (c) extruding said so-lubricated material to surround at least said conductor core, therein providing said finished cable with a lubricated outer surface at the time of installation without the external application of a lubricant to said outer surface.