Compositions for compounding, extrusion and melt processing of foamable and cellular polymers

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a communications cable, which comprises a support separator providing a plurality of channels for receiving transmission media, said support separator comprising a first polymeric material, at least one optical fiber disposed in one of said channels, at least an electrical conductor capable of carrying at least about 10 watts of electrical power disposed in another one of said channels, an insulation at least partially covering said electrical conductor, a jacket surrounding said support separator and said transmission media, said jacket comprising a second polymeric material. In some embodiments, the first and second polymeric materials can be the same material, and in other embodiments, they can be different materials.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A communications cable comprising:
 a support separator configured to provide a plurality of channels for receiving transmission media;   at least an electrical conductor disposed in one of the plurality of channels, the at least one electrical conductor comprising an American Wire Gauge (AWG) in a range of about 18 and capable of carrying at least about 200 watts of electrical power; and   a jacket configured to surround the support separator and any transmission media received by the plurality of channels;   wherein at least one of the support separator and the jacket comprises a plurality of cellular structures, the cellular structures comprising one or more cells each comprising a size ranging from about 0.0005 inches to about 0.003 inches.   
     
     
         35 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the support separator and the jacket comprises a foamed polymeric material. 
     
     
         36 . The communications cable of  claim 35 , wherein the foamed polymeric material comprises a foaming level ranging from about 20% to about 70%. 
     
     
         37 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the support separator and the jacket comprise different polymeric materials. 
     
     
         38 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one optical fiber disposed in at least another one of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         39 . The communications cable of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one optical fiber comprises at least one of a single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber. 
     
     
         40 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , further comprising an insulation configured to at least partially cover the at least one electrical conductor. 
     
     
         41 . The communications cable of  claim 40 , wherein the insulation comprises a foamed polymer. 
     
     
         42 . The communications cable of  claim 41 , wherein the foamed polymeric material comprises a foaming level ranging from about 20% to about 70%. 
     
     
         43 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one electrical conductor is capable of carrying power in a range of about 10 watts to about 200 watts. 
     
     
         44 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the jacket comprises an internal diameter equal to or less than about 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         45 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the jacket comprises an internal diameter ranging from about 0.24 inches to about 0.32 inches. 
     
     
         46 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the support separator and the jacket comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         47 . The communications cable of  claim 46 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises at least one of MFA, FEP, PFA, PVF, ETFE, ECTFE, and PVDF. 
     
     
         48 . The communications cable of  claim 46 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises a perfluoropolymer. 
     
     
         49 . The communications cable of  claim 48 , wherein the perfluoropolymer comprises at least one of FEP, MFA, and PFA. 
     
     
         50 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one electrical conductor comprises a twisted pair conductor. 
     
     
         51 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more cells each comprises a size ranging from about 0.001 inches to about 0.002 inches. 
     
     
         52 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein at least about 60% to at least about 70% of the cellular structures comprise closed cells. 
     
     
         53 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , wherein the jacket comprises a thickness ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.015 inches. 
     
     
         54 . The communications cable of  claim 34 , further comprising a tape configured to surround the at least an electrical conductor. 
     
     
         55 . The communications cable of  claim 54 , wherein the tape comprises at least one of a solid polymeric material and a foamed polymeric material. 
     
     
         56 . The communications cable of  claim 54 , wherein the support separator, the jacket, and the tape comprise of different polymeric materials.