1.1This guide is intended to provide a list of materials commonly used in components that provide insulation, jacketing and strength in fiber-optic cables. Where these materials are covered by ASTM standards, an appropriate reference is made. Due to changing technology, not all materials being used are necessarily listed here.

1.2This guide does not include materials used in components for optical purposes (optical fiber and its coating) or external metallic armoring (such as for a barrier to rodents).

1.3This guide offers two general lists of materials:

1.3.1A subdivision of fiber-optic cable construction into components that are used for insulation, jacketing, or strength, with a generic material classification for specific applications in each component (see Section 5); and

1.3.2An alphabetical list of the generic material classifications, showing ASTM standards where they exist (see Table 1).

TABLE 1 Materials in Current Use

Material	ASTM Specification
Acrylates	...
Aramids:
fibers	D3317
tape	...
Fluoroplastics:
ECTFE	D3275
ETFE	D3159
FEP	D2116
PFA	D3307
PTFE	D1457
PVDF	D3222
Glass fibers	...
Glass-fiber reinforced plastics	...
Grease and similar materials	D4730, D4731, D4732
Nylon	D4066
Polybutylene	D4730, D4731, D4732
Polycarbonate	D3935
Polyester tape	D3664
Polyethylene	D1248
Polyimide tape	...
Polypropylene	D4101
Polyurethane	...
Poly(vinyl chloride)	D2287
Rubber	D4730, D4731, D4732
Silicone rubber	D2526
Steel	...
Thermoplastic elastomer	D4246
Thermoplastic polyester	D4507