A Study on Optical Fiber Cable Sheath Materials for Multi-Cable Installation

Transcription

1 97 13 A Study on Optical Fiber Cable Sheath Materials for Multi-Cable Installation N. Umeo T. Higashikubo H. Kuzushita K. Ono R. Nishikawa H. Murata 75mm 50m Summary With demand for optical access network increasing rapidly, multi-cable installation is means for effectively making use of the conduit line and using optical fibers efficiently. To realize this kind of installation, we have evaluated sheath materials with low friction. In this paper, we introduce our experiments on decreasing the friction by adding lubricants to sheath materials using the conventional linear low density polyethylene () and high density polyethylene () as the base polymers. We evaluated the reliability of lubricant added sheath materials and performed a test installment to a simulation conduit line. Lubricant evaluation results used in sheath materials showed that fatty acid amide lubricant was more effective than silicone. Because has a higher degree of crystallinity than, it is more durable against abrasion and therefore is a suitable material for multi-cable installation. Results of evaluation of the friction coefficient and the effect of lubricant showed that sheath materials with no lubricant had equal or superior friction coefficient than sheath materials added with the optimum amount of lubricant. With certain fatty acid amide lubricant, even though its effect was less than on, it was able to decrease friction in. We confirmed that both and added with lubricant had sufficient characteristics necessary for sheath materials. From the simulation conduit line having nominal diameter of 75mm, length of 50m, we obtained results which matched well with the sheet experiment. sheath materials are ideal for multi-cable installation as they have very low friction without the need of additives. They are also durable against abrasion and have superior mechanical characteristics, enabling very thin sheaths. Having no additives is also a merit for recycling the material. Key words Polyethylene,,, Lubricant, Fatty acid amid, Sheath material, Friction, Abrasion, Multicable installation, Installation conduit line 30

2 75mm PVC 50m MB Table 1 5 A EMB 0.5 3wt Fig. 1,Fig. 2 MB A E MB CA BD ECD BE Table 1 Master batch of the tested lubricants A B PE C D E 1.0mm JIS-K-7204 TELEDYN TABER Taber C H A B C D E 1 MB13wt 1 MB 13wt 3 JIS-K mm1.0mmJIS- K-7125HEIDON C 200gf150mm/ min 1 3 JIS-K Fig. 1 MBwt% Amount of lubricant and static friction coefficient 31

3 Fig. 2 MBwt% Amount of lubricant and kinematic friction coefficient 1wt MBE MB MBE 2wtMB MB MB MBE MB3wt Table 2 A B C D E MFR 3.1.2MB ESC 3HD-A,HD-B,HD-C ESC Table 3 HD-C ESC HD-A HD-B ESC HD-A Table 3 Basic characteristic comparison of promising sheath materials Table 2 Basic characteristics of the lubricant MB added sheath material MB MFR kg/m 3 g/10min MPa C D mg C, C NaOH JIS HD-A HD-B HD-C MFR ESC kg/m 3 g/10min D mg HD-A3.1.1 MBE MB 0.5 3wt L- LDPE Fig. 3,Fig. 4 MB HD-A 44 MB 3wt 25 32

4 Fig. 3 MBwt% HD-A L-LD Amount of lubricant and static friction coefficient Table 4 Basic characteristics of the lubricant MB added sheath material MB MFR kg/m 3 g/10min MPa C D mg C, HD-A L-LD 75mmPVC HD-A MB MB3wt Fig. 5 MBwt% Fig. 4 Amount of lubricant and kinematic friction coefficient 3wt MB 25 HD-A 15HD-A L- LDPE HD- A 24 MB 3wt 25HD-A 15 MB HD-A MBE MB3wt Table 4 MFR 200 SM WB Fig. 5 PVC Friction coefficient during the installation of a single cable MB 3712 PVC PVC Fig. 6 MB 33

5 97 13 Fig Friction coefficient during the installation two cables into a single conduit line Fig. 7 MB Fig Friction coefficient during two additional cable installation into a single conduit line under existing a sheath cable 1999 No.B PE 1999 No.B PE No.B

6 35