WCA September 2014

Technology news

Cabletas – optimum protection from water penetration

❍ Swellable yarn

CABLES that are being used externally and without jointing, eg telecoms, power, etc, require some element of water blocking. There are two main methods available – longitudinal and radial water blocking. Longitudinal is the most common option and uses petrogel to protect the cables. This adheres to the cable components to close off all possible leakage areas along its length. However, problems have occurred when using this method, eg application can be messy and containment can be difficult. Technical Absorbents Ltd (TAL) has an alternative solution – Cabletas. The Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) manufacturer provides high levels of innovation and product development expertise to the global cable market with its Cabletas range of SAF and SAF-containing converted materials. SAF can be converted into spun yarns and non-woven tapes that provide optimum protection for internal and external cable applications. This dry active system prevents water passage along the cable from a joint or point of sheath damage. The highly effective protection is achieved by a SAF-containing water-swellable yarn or tape being incorporated into the cable during manufacture. If a cable is then damaged and starts to take on water, the yarn and/or tape will rapidly absorb the liquid at the point of entry and swell to form a gel – blocking any further water ingress. Any damage is then minimal, fully contained and easy to locate and repair. Application is suitable for many different cable types including telecoms, medium and high voltage, industrial and underwater. Without water-blocking technology, the results of water ingress can be costly and very problematic. SAF yarns and tapes have sufficient strength to withstand the stresses of the cable-making process, have high gel viscosity, are resistant to cable-operating conditions for the lifetime of the cable, and provide long-term stability at extreme temperatures.

Technical Absorbents Ltd – UK Website : www.techabsorbents.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2014

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