Laser-markable cables and systems for making the same
View Patent ↗Laser-markable cable layers for a cable are provided. The laser-markable cable layers include an inner layer formed of a first polymer material and an outer layer formed of a second polymer material and a laser-marking compound. The outer layer is about 0.5% to about 50% of the thickness of the inner layer. The laser-markable cable layers surround a wire or cable core. Methods of marking a cable having laser-markable cable layers are also provided.
1. A cable comprising:
a core; and
laser-markable cable layers surrounding the core, the laser-markable cable layers comprising:
an inner layer formed from a first polymer material, wherein the first polymer material comprises polyethylene; and
an outer layer formed from a second polymer material and a laser-marking compound, wherein the second polymer material comprises polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), and wherein the outer layer includes about 0.05% to about 5% of a laser-marking compound; and
wherein the thickness of the outer layer is about 0.5% to about 50% of the thickness of the inner layer; wherein the laser-marking compound at least partially ablates the outer layer upon exposure to the energy of a laser, and wherein the depth of the ablation is about 50% or more of the thickness of the outer layer.
2. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises one or more optical fibers and conductors.
3. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-marking compound comprises a metal oxide.
4. The cable of claim 3 , wherein the metal oxide comprises one or more members of the group including titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and antimony trioxide.
5. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-marking compound comprises an inorganic compound.
6. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-marking compound visually exhibits a first color when incorporated into the outer layer and visually exhibits a second color after exposure to a first elevated temperature.
7. The cable of claim 6 , wherein the first elevated temperature is generated by a laser pulse.
8. The cable of claim 6 , wherein the laser-marking compound visually exhibits one or more additional colors different from the first and second colors, each of the one or more additional colors visually exhibited after exposure to a temperature different from the first elevated temperature.
9. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-marking compound comprises a thermochromic compound.
10. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer further comprises one or more of carbon black, an antioxidant and a UV stabilizer.
11. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer material further comprises PVC.
12. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer includes one or more discontinuous gaps.
13. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-markable cable layers comprise a longitudinal stripe.
14. The cable of claim 1 , wherein the laser-marking compound is located in an integrally-formed laser-markable strip or section.
15. A cable comprising:
a core comprising one or more optical fibers and conductors; and
laser-markable cable layers surrounding the core, the laser-markable cable layers comprising:
an inner layer comprising a first polymer material, wherein the first polymer material comprises polyethylene; and
an outer layer comprising a second polymer material and a laser-marking compound, wherein the second polymer material comprises polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), and wherein the outer layer includes about 0.05% to about 5% of a laser-marking compound;
wherein the thickness of the outer layer is about 0.5% to about 50% of the thickness of the inner layer; and wherein the outer layer includes one or more discontinuous gaps.
16. The cable of claim 15 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are extruded.