Novel optical fiber gel fluid

Abstract

A novel optical fiber gel fluid is provided.

1 . A fiber optic gel comprising: 
 (a) an ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer comprising: 
 (i) 10 to 80% ethylene,  
 (ii) 14 to 80% of a first olefin having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and  
 (iii) 0 to 10% of a second olefin having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms which is different from said first olefin;  
   wherein said ethylene-alpha-olefin has a molecular weight of greater than about 700 and a pour point of less than about −30° C.; and    (b) an effective amount of a gelling agent.    
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first olefin comprises propylene.  
     
     
         3 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second olefin comprises a C 4  to C 12  olefin.  
     
     
         4 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, styrene and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer has a molecular weight of greater than 1000.  
     
     
         6 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer has a molecular weight of greater than 1100.  
     
     
         7 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer has a molecular weight of greater than 2000.  
     
     
         8 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of silica, colloidal silica, precipitated silica, clay and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  further comprising (c) an effective amount of a bleed resistant agent.  
     
     
         10 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 9  wherein said bleed resistant agent comprises a styrene-rubber block copolymer, a styrene-rubber-styrene block copolymer or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  further comprising (d) an effective amount of a thermal/oxidative stabilizer.  
     
     
         12 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 11  wherein said stabilizer comprises a hindered phenolic stabilizer.  
     
     
         13 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  further comprising (e) an effective amount of a thickening agent.  
     
     
         14 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 13  wherein said thickening agent comprises a glycol.  
     
     
         15 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer is further processed by thermal cracking.  
     
     
         16 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 15  wherein said thermally cracked polymer is hydrogenated.  
     
     
         17 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 15  wherein said thermally cracked polymer is hydroisomerized.  
     
     
         18 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said effective amount of gelling agent comprises an amount ranging from about 5 to about 8 weight percent of the total gel composition.  
     
     
         19 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 9  wherein said effective amount of bleed resistant agent comprises an amount ranging from about 1 to about 2 weight percent.  
     
     
         20 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 11  wherein said effective amount of thermal/oxidative stabilizer comprises an amount ranging from about 1 to 2 weight percent based on the total gel composition.  
     
     
         21 . A fiber optic gel as defined in  claim 1  wherein said ethlyene-alpha-olefin polymer is present in an amount of at least about  85  weight percent based on the total gel composition.  
     
     
         22 . A fiber optic cable comprising: 
 (I) a fiber optic member;    (II) surrounded by a fiber optic gel as defined in claim  1 ; and    (III) encased in a cable jacket.