PVC vs PE Optical Cable Jacket Material, how to choose?

The sheath is the outer skin of the optical cable, which is directly wrapped around the outside of the optical cable. It protects the optical fiber and other components inside the cable. This protection enables the optical cable to adapt to various complex laying environments, including outdoor environments, air pollution, acid rain and other harsh conditions. The cable sheath ensures the stability and long-term service life of the cable. The two most common cable jackets on the market are PVC optical cable jacket and PE optical cable jacket.

PVC Optical Cable Jacket Material (Cable Sheath Material)

PVC Polyvinyl chloride is a polar non-crystalline thermoplastic. PVC has excellent chemical resistance, insulation and flame retardancy.

PVC optical cable jacket is usually made of PVC resin as the basis, with the addition of stabilizers, plasticizers and fillers. It is prepared by mixing, kneading and extrusion process. PVC cable sheath has good flexibility, certain tensile and bending resistance, and can reduce the impact of collision during transportation and use of optical cables. At the same time, PVC cable jacket has good insulation performance and low cost.

PE Optical Cable Jacket Material (Cable Sheath Material)

PE (Polyethylene) is a linear high molecular polymer (thermoplastic resin). PE has excellent electrical insulation properties and good processing properties. There are four types of PE, HDPE, MDPE, LDPE and LLDPE.

PE optical cable jacket materials are mainly divided into polyester type and polyether type, with different hardness ranges and wear resistance. PE cable sheath has better elasticity and is suitable for application scenarios with certain bending requirements for optical cables, such as direct buried and underground pipeline optical cables. At the same time, PE cable jacket has good wear resistance, which can well protect the optical cable and extend the service life of the optical cable.

PVC vs PE Optical Cable Jacket, how to choose?

(1) Based on indoor and outdoor scenarios

PE optical cable jacket(sheath) performs well in outdoor environments due to its excellent weather resistance and low temperature resistance. At the same time, PE cable sheath is also suitable for indoor environments.

PVC optical cable jacket has relatively weak weather resistance and UV resistance. However, PVC cable jacket has lower cost, good insulation performance, and is more suitable for indoor environments. In places such as communication rooms and data centers, PVC optical cable jacket can effectively protect optical cables from mechanical damage and electromagnetic interference.

(2) PVC vs PE Cable Sheath,Which one is more suitable for Overhead optical cable, Direct buried optical cable, and Pipeline optical cable?

For overhead optical cables, PE optical cable jacket is more suitable due to its high strength and rigidity. It can effectively resist external wind and mechanical stress, ensuring the stable operation of optical cables.

For direct buried optical cables. PE cable sheath performs well in direct buried environments due to its excellent corrosion resistance and pressure resistance. It can effectively resist corrosive substances in the soil and underground pressure, ensuring the long-term stable operation of optical cables.

For pipeline optical cables. PVC optical cable jacket is widely used in pipeline laying. PVC cable jacket is low-cost and easy to install. However, for some occasions that require long-distance and high-reliability transmission, PE cable jacket can provide better protection.

Conclusion

Optical cable jacket can protect optical cable well. In the future, there will be more cost-effective optical cable sheath materials, but PVC and PE cable jacket are still the two most common ones. TOEM has been deeply involved in the communications industry for many years and has perfect and professional materials and optical fiber solutions. If you have any questions about sheaths, you can contact us.