Compositions, methods and devices providing shielding in communications cables

• US 9,875,825 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Components Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cable Components Group, LLC
• Inventors: Glew, Charles A., Braun, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Hiram E
• Application Number:
  US13/795,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20130248218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 174 34, 174113 R, 174388
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/08 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/00 Use of ingredients characterised by shape
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/12 containing fluorine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/002 Pair constructions
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/04 with pairs or quads mutually positioned to reduce cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/08 Screens specially adapted for reducing cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1895 Particular features or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/004 with conductive additives or conductive layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/445 from vinylfluorides or other fluoroethylenic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/295 using material resistant to flame
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0081 Electromagnetic shielding materials, e.g. EMI, RFI shielding H05K9/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0098 for shielding electrical cables

Abstract

Compositions, devices, and methods for providing shielding communications cables are provided. In some embodiments, compositions including electrically conductive elements are disclosed. In other embodiments, cable separators, tapes, and nonwoven materials including various electrically conductive elements are disclosed.

Claims

1. A separator for use in a telecommunications cable, comprising:

a plurality of polymeric fibers comprising a fluoropolymer, assembled as a non-woven fabric, wherein the non-woven fabric has a density in a range of about 0.1 g/cm³ to about 9 g/cm³; and

a plurality of electrically conductive elements distributed within said non-woven fabric, wherein said conductive elements comprise a plurality of fibrils having a sufficiently high density so as to form an interconnected conductive network.

2. The separator of claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer comprises a perfluoropolymer.

3. The separator of claim 2, wherein said perfluoropolymer has a melting temperature greater than about 600°

F.

4. The separator of claim 2, wherein said perfluoropolymer comprises any of FEP, MFA and PFA.

5. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 5% by weight of said separator.

6. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 7% by weight of said separator.

7. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 10% by weight of said separator.

8. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 15% by weight of said separator.

9. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 20% by weight of said separator.

10. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise at least about 25% by weight of said separator.

11. The separator of claim 1, wherein said fibrils are formed of a metal.

12. The separator of claim 11, wherein said metal comprises any of silver, aluminum, copper, gold, bronze, tin, zinc, iron, nickel, indium, gallium, and stainless steel.

13. The separator of claim 1, wherein said fibrils are formed of a metal oxide.

14. The separator of claim 13, wherein said metal oxide comprises any of copper oxide, bronze oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, nickel oxide, zinc-doped indium oxide, indium tin oxide, and aluminum oxide.

15. The separator of claim 1, wherein said conductive elements comprise a plurality of particles having an average size in a range of about 10 microns to about 6000 microns.

16. The separator of claim 1, wherein said separator exhibits a DC conductivity along an axial direction in a range of about 1×

10³ Siemens/meter to about 3.5×

10⁷ Siemens/meter.

17. The separator of claim 1, wherein said separator exhibits a sheet resistance in a range of about 1×

10<sup>−

5</sup> ohms per square to about 1×

10⁵ ohms per square.