Patent ID: 8486527

Claim:
A reinforcement rod for optical cables comprising: a compact fiber reinforced rod comprising: a plurality of elongated fiber members encased in a matrix of a UV cured vinyl ester resin material; and an outer topcoat layer substantially surrounding said matrix, said outer topcoat layer being a separate layer distinct from the matrix and including a thermoplastic hot melt ethylene acrylic acid polymer resin having a different composition than the matrix and formulated to impart specific bonding characteristics to said rod; wherein said UV cured vinyl ester resin material is heated to within a range of from about 65° C. to about 100° C. when applied to said plurality of elongated fibers to encase in said matrix; and wherein said ethylene acrylic acid polymer resin is heated to within a temperature range of from about 150° C. to about 230° C. when applied to said matrix to form said outer topcoat layer; and wherein said elongated fiber members include one or more of E glass fiber members and one or more of S glass fiber members and one or more of high strength synthetic strands of poly (p-phenylene-2.6-benzobisoxazole) fiber members and one or more of high strength aramid strands and one or more of polyphenylene terephthalate strand members.