Patent ID: 9057857
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A fiber optic assembly, comprising: a plurality of optical fibers a buffer tube forming an elongate passage, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are positioned in the passage of the buffer tube, wherein the buffer tube comprises at least one layer of a composite material, wherein the composite material of the buffer tube comprises a base material and a filler material blended into the base material, wherein particles of the filler material have an acicular structure, the particles having a longest dimension that is on average at least ten times a narrowest dimension of the particles, and wherein the buffer tube has kink resistance such that when the buffer tube is formed into a loop of 85 millimeters in diameter with a plastic ring of about 2 centimeters in interior diameter holding the cross-over point of the loop, and when the loop is then constricted by fixing one side of the buffer tube and drawing the other side of the buffer tube through the ring at a rate of 250 millimeters per minute to decrease the size of the loop, kinking of the buffer tube occurs when the loop is 20 millimeters or less in diameter, where the diameter at kinking is the diameter corresponding to a peak drawing force applied that is then accompanied by a drop in at least 10% of that peak force thereafter upon continued constricting of the loop.