Patent ID: 7790222

Claim:
A method for producing a cable comprising: at least one transmissive element; and an expanded and cross-linked coating layer in a radially outer position with respect to said at least one transmissive element, said coating layer comprising a composition including an expandable cross-linkable polymeric material; said method comprising the steps of: a) extruding said composition via around said at least one transmissive element via an extruder; b) forming a coating layer made of expandable and cross-linkable polymeric material with the composition thus extruded; c) expanding said coating layer made of expandable and cross-linkable polymeric material; and d) cross-linking said coating layer made of expandable and cross-linkable polymeric material; said expanding and cross-linking steps c) and d) being carried out downstream of said extruder by heating said coating layer made of expandable and cross-linkable polymeric material at atmospheric pressure by means of a heating fluid, and wherein said method is operated in a manner to avoid expansion and cross-linking of said expandable and cross-linkable polymeric material prior to said expanding and cross-linking steps c) and d).