Binder film for a fiber optic cable

A fiber optic cable, comprising:

• a central strength member;
• core elements wound about the central strength member in a stranded configuration wherein the core elements comprise buffer tubes, filler rods, secondary strength members, and/or conductive wires;
• a binder film overlaying and surrounding the stranded core elements, wherein the binder film is 0.5 millimeters or less in thickness and comprises a polymeric material having a Young's modulus of 3 gigapascals or less;
• and
• a jacket surrounding the binder film, wherein the jacket thicker than the binder film.

A method of manufacturing a sub-assembly of a fiber optic cable on a manufacturing line, comprising steps of:

• stranding core elements around a central strength member, the core elements comprising buffer tubes, filler rods, secondary strength members, and/or conductive wires;
• extruding a binder film to surround the core elements;
• and
• opposing torque induced by the stranded core elements with equipment positioned in close proximity to a closing point of the core elements on the manufacturing line where the core elements come together from the stranding step to contact one another and/or the central strength member in the stranded configuration, thereby limiting unwinding of the stranded core elements as the binder film cools and shrinks to constrain the core elements.