Binder film for a fiber optic cable

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

• stranding core elements around a central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the core elements, the core elements comprising:
• a buffer tube surrounding optical fibers;
• and
• one or more additional core elements, comprising at least one of:
• a filler rod, and
• an additional buffer tube;
• extruding a binder film to surround the core elements after stranding the core elements,
• wherein the binder film is extruded to be continuous peripherally around the core elements, forming a continuous closed loop when viewed in cross-section, and continuous lengthwise along a length of the cable that is at least 10 meters, wherein the binder film is 0.5 millimeters or less in thickness,
• wherein, following the extruding of the binder film, the binder film cools and contracts around the core such that the binder film is in radial tension and opposes outwardly transverse deflection of the core elements, and wherein the binder film loads the core elements normally to the central strength member such that contact between the core elements and central strength member provides coupling therebetween, limiting axial migration of the core elements relative to the central strength member;
• and
• extruding a jacket around the binder film, wherein the jacket is at least five times thicker than the binder film.

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

• providing a core of the cable comprising core elements comprising:
• a tube surrounding at least one optical fiber;
• and
• one or more additional core elements, comprising at least one of:
• a filler rod, and
• an additional tube;
• extruding a binder film to constrain the core, wherein the binder film subsequently cools and contracts around the core such that the binder film is in tension around the core;
• and
• partially embedding powder particles in the binder film while the binder film is tacky from the extruding such that the powder particles have a portion thereof submerged in the binder film passing partly through a surface plane of the binder film and another portion thereof exposed partially projecting away from the surface plane of the binder film, wherein at least some of the powder particles are positioned on an inside surface of the binder film between the binder film and the core.

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

• stranding core elements around a central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the core elements, the core elements comprising:
• a buffer tube surrounding optical fibers;
• and
• one or more additional core elements, comprising at least one of:
• a filler rod, and
• an additional buffer tube;
• forming a binder film around the core elements to at least partially constrain the core elements, wherein the binder film is continuous peripherally around the core elements and continuous lengthwise along a length of the cable that is at least 10 meters, and wherein coupling between the stranded core elements and the central strength member facilitated by radial tension in the binder film is such that a force to pull and move a 100 mm length of the central strength member through the stranded core elements is at least 5 newtons;
• and
• extruding a jacket around the binder film, wherein the jacket is at least five times thicker than the binder film.