Ceramic Polyimide Composite Tape for Optical Cable Heat Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame-retardant refractory optical cables have a relatively low heat-resistant temperature, which limits their application in high-temperature environments and does not meet the requirements for safety and protection in fire scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight nonmetal flame-retardant refractory optical cable is developed, featuring a ceramic polyimide composite tape refractory layer and a low-smoke halogen-free sheathing layer, with specific formulations for the tape and sheathing materials to enhance heat resistance and safety, allowing the cable to withstand temperatures of 700-800 °C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional flame-retardant refractory optical cables are used, then basic fire protection is provided, but the heat-resistant temperature is relatively low and cannot meet high-temperature application needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite refractory layer made of polyimide tape coated with flame-retardant slurry containing ceramic particles (alumina, silica, magnesia). This composite structure combines the high-temperature stability of ceramics with the flexibility and adhesion of polyimide, achieving heat resistance up to 700-800°C while maintaining cable integrity and fire protection capability.
2Temperature
If the refractory layer is made thicker to improve heat resistance, then temperature withstand capability increases, but the cable weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flame-retardant slurry contains ceramic particles dispersed in a resin matrix with controlled porosity. This porous composite structure provides high heat resistance through the ceramic network while the porous matrix reduces material density, allowing the refractory layer to be effective at lower thicknesses (0.5-2.0 mm) thereby reducing overall cable weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the refractory layer to 0.5-2.0 mm, which is sufficient to achieve 700-800°C heat resistance when combined with the ceramic-polyimide composite formulation. This parameter optimization balances heat resistance requirements with weight reduction, avoiding excessive thickness that would increase cable weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional metal-reinforced cable structures are used, then mechanical strength is adequate, but the cable cannot be vertically laid and has limited adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metal reinforcement element from the cable structure, extracting the metallic component that limited installation flexibility. The cable is redesigned with a non-metallic construction using high-strength polymer materials and structural design to provide adequate mechanical strength without the constraints of metal reinforcement, enabling vertical and horizontal installation options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from metal-containing to entirely non-metallic materials. This parameter change enables the cable to meet fire safety requirements (no halogen, low smoke) while improving installation flexibility for vertical and horizontal layouts, maintaining mechanical strength through optimized polymer matrix and structural design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cable achieves improved refractory performance, enabling safe operation in high-temperature conditions and allowing for both vertical and horizontal installation, particularly in vertical pipelines, while maintaining optical fiber integrity and reducing the risk of heat and flame transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the refractory layer is a polyimide composite tape, the polyimide composite tape is a ceramic polyimide composite tape... can withstand a high temperature of 700-800 °C
Implementation Method 2
The polyimide composite tape is formed by soaking a polyimide tape in a flame-retardant slurry
Implementation Method 3
subsequently roasting and curing the soaked polyimide tape at 100-180 °C
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A lightweight non-metal flame-retardant fire-resistant optical cable comprises: a cable core; a fire-resistant layer (6) covering an outer circumference of the cable core; and a low smoke zero halogen jacket (7) covering an outer circumference of the fire-resistant layer (6). The fire-resistant layer (6) is a mica tape having polyimide films attached to both sides thereof, or a polyimide composite tape. The polyimide composite tape is a ceramic polyimide composite tape and has a thickness of 0.12-0.2 mm. The polyimide composite tape has an overlap width of 3-5 mm. The polyimide composite tape has good heat insulation performance, and is resistant to a high temperature of 700-800 °C.