Borstar Low Shrink Fiber Optic Cable Jacketing

Rapid development in communications technology has led to the widening use of fibre optical cables in ever more diverse applications. 

Today, they are an indispensable part of communication systems ranging from telephones and local area networks (LAN) to plant and process control.  Consequently, society’s dependence on these systems in both the private and industrial sectors is continuously driving the need for cable materials that contribute to performance improvements and transmission reliability.

Superior jacketing performance

To satisfy these progressively evolving needs, Borealis offers a range of fibre optical dedicated Borstar® high density polyethylene (HDPE) cable jacketing solutions. These materials enhance performance reliability through protection of the optical fibres during cable laying in the ground or sub-sea, as well as their in- service environment. 

Borstar HDPE grades, produced using Borealis’ proprietary bimodal technology, deliver property combinations and performance levels not available with conventional PE.  These include:

• high abrasion and impact resistance;
• excellent Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR);
• thermal stability at high and low ambient temperatures;
• excellent balance of physical and water barrier properties;
• flexibility, contributing to ease of installation;
• good ageing performance for long service life.

Importantly, Borstar HDPE compounds offer easy processability with very low shrink-back, thereby maintaining low signal attenuation and eliminating the risk of unprotected and broken fibres in the final cable.

Wider optical cable solutions

While protective jacketing is the main application for plastics in fibre optical cables, Borealis also offers dedicated insulation for slotted core cable designs. Solutions based on Borstar HDPE and Borealis’ medium density polyethylene (MDPE), bring the enhanced performance benefits of these materials to both dry core and gel-filled fibre optical cable constructions.