Foamed polymer separator for cabling
View Patent ↗A cable separator comprising a preshaped article having a longitudinal length, wherein said preshaped article is substantially entirely formed of a foamed polymer material having a glass transition temperature greater than 160° C. and being halogen-free is provided. A data communications cable comprising a plurality of conductors and the cable separator of the present invention, wherein said cable separator separates the plurality of conductors is provided. A method of manufacturing a cable comprising the separator of the invention is also provided.
1. A cable separator, comprising:
a preshaped body having a longitudinal length,
wherein said preshaped body is substantially entirely formed of a foamed thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyphenylenesulfide, poly(aryletherketone), poly(etheretherketone), and blends thereof; and
wherein the preshaped body is halogen-free.
2. The cable separator according to claim 1 , wherein said foamed thermoplastic polymer has a foam rate of between 30% and 80%.
3. The cable separator according to claim 1 , wherein said preshaped body includes one or more projections extending in an outward direction.
4. The cable separator according to claim 3 , wherein, said preshaped body is a crossweb.
5. The cable separator according to claim 1 , wherein said preshaped body is a substantially flat member.
6. A data communication cable, comprising:
a plurality of conductors; and
a separator, including:
a preshaped body having a longitudinal length,
wherein said preshaped body is substantially entirely formed of a foamed thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyphenylenesulfide, poly(aryletherketone), poly(etheretherketone), and blends thereof; and
wherein the preshaped body is halogen-free, and
wherein said separator separates said plurality of conductors.
7. The data communication cable according to claim 6 , wherein said foamed thermoplastic polymer has a foam rate of between 30% and 80%.
8. The data communication cable according to claim 6 , wherein said preshaped body includes one or more projections extending in an outward direction.
9. The data communication cable according to claim 8 , wherein said preshaped body is a crossweb.
10. The data communication cable according to claim 6 , wherein said preshaped body is a substantially flat member.
11. The data communication cable according to claim 6 , wherein said plurality of conductors comprises a plurality of twisted conductor pairs.
12. The data communication cable of claim 6 , further comprising a protective jacket surrounding said plurality of conductors.
13. A method of manufacturing a cable, comprising the steps of:
providing a foamed thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyphenylenesulfide, poly(aryletherketone), poly(etheretherketone), and blends thereof;
extruding said foamed thermoplastic polymer to form a separator having a predetermined shape, the separator being halogen-free;
providing a plurality of conductors;
positioning said separator between said plurality of conductors after forming said separator having said predetermined shape and without further manipulation of said separator; and
extruding an outer jacket that surrounds said separator and said plurality of conductors.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said predetermined shape is a crossweb.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said predetermined shape is a substantially flat member.