Polyurethane to polyethylene adhesion process
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsScott Carlson, Dennis Ray Wells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telecommunications cable includes a distribution cable, a tether branching from the distribution cable at a breakout location, and an enclosure that surrounds the breakout location. The enclosure is secured to the distribution cable at first and second adhesion regions. The enclosure can also secure to the tether at a third adhesion region. The adhesion regions are treated by sanding the regions, cleaning the regions, and then plasma-etching the regions immediately before welding/injection molding the enclosure around the breakout location.
Claims26
A method for treating a telecommunications cable, the method comprising:
- selecting a first area on the telecommunications cable, the first area extending partially along a first length of the telecommunications cable and circumferentially around the telecommunications cable;
- sanding a first surface of the first area to provide a first roughened surface;
- cleaning the first roughened surface with a cleaning agent to provide a first cleaned surface;
- etching disruptions in the first cleaned surface to form a first treated surface;
- and
- forming an enclosure over the telecommunications cable, at least a portion of the enclosure contacting the first treated surface of the telecommunications cable.
A method for overmolding a section of a telecommunications cable, the method comprising:
- selecting a first area on the telecommunications cable, the first area extending partially along a length of the telecommunications cable and circumferentially around the telecommunications cable;
- sanding a first surface of the first area to provide a first roughened surface;
- cleaning the first roughened surface with alcohol to provide a first cleaned surface;
- etching disruptions in the first cleaned surface to form a first treated surface;
- mounting the first treated surface in a mold;
- injecting a liquid polymeric material into the mold to cover the first treated surface;
- allowing the polymeric material to harden;
- and
- removing the mold to leave the hardened polymeric material around the first treated surface.
A method for preterminating a tether to a distribution cable, the method comprising:
- coupling at least a first fiber of a tether to a first fiber of a distribution cable at a breakout location on the distribution cable;
- selecting a first area on the distribution cable, the first area located at a first end of the breakout location, the first area having a first surface;
- selecting a second area on the distribution cable, the second area located at a second, opposite end of the breakout location, the second area having a second surface;
- sanding the first surface of the first area to provide a first roughened surface;
- sanding the second surface of the second area to provide a second roughened surface;
- cleaning the first roughened surface with a cleaning agent to provide a first cleaned surface;
- cleaning the second roughened surface with the cleaning agent to provide a second cleaned surface;
- etching disruptions in the first cleaned surface to form a first treated surface;
- etching disruptions in the second cleaned surface to form a second treated surface;
- and
- forming an enclosure over the breakout location on the distribution cable, at least a first portion of the enclosure contacting the first treated surface of the distribution cable and at least a second portion of the enclosure contacting the second treated surface of the distribution cable.
A method for providing enhanced adhesion between a polyethylene surface and an overmolded polyurethane layer, the method comprising:
- sanding a first section of the polyethylene surface to produce a first roughened surface;
- cleaning the first roughened surface with a cleaning agent to provide a first cleaned surface;
- etching disruptions in the first cleaned surface to form a first treated surface;
- and
- overmolding the first treated surface with polyurethane to produce an overmolded polyurethane layer, wherein the overmolded polyurethane layer is adhered to the first treated surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.