Raychem Limited

Patrick K Tsou

Christine E Vogdes

Joseph K Kiang

Eugene F Lopez

Christian A Debbaut

Wendell W Moyer

Norman A Gac

David Terrell

High strength fibers of polymeric material and having outstanding tensile strength, Young's modulus values, and creep resistance are prepared by treating a fiber from a polymeric material, which may contain a crosslinking promoter, by (a) crosslinking the polymeric material; (b) heating the fiber to a temperature, T.sub.1, which (i) in the event the polymer is amorphous, is above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer and, (ii) in the event the polymer is crystalline, is above the second order transition temperature, T.sub..alpha..sbsb.c, and below the crystalline melting temperature (Tm) of the polymer; (c) drawing the fiber to a draw ratio of at least about 2 at a rate of at least about 200% per minute and (d) cooling the fiber.

Method of producing high strength fibers

High strength fibers of a polymeric material and having outstanding tensile strength, Young's modulus values, and creep resistance are prepared by treating a fiber from a polymeric material, which may contain a crosslinking promoter, by (a) crosslinking the polymeric material; (b) heating the fiber to a temperature, T.sub.1, which (i) in the event the polymer is amorphous, is above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer and, (ii) in the event the polymer is crystalline, is above the second order transition temperature, T.sub..alpha..sbsb.c, and below the crystalline melting temperature (Tm) of the polymer; (c) drawing the fiber to a draw ratio of at least about 2 at a rate of at least about 200% per minute and (d) cooling the fiber.

Method of making high strength polyethylene fiber

A splice between two multiconductor cables is protected from ingress of water by a closure which is filled with an expanding foam sealant which provides pressure inside the closure sufficient to force the sealant into the interstices of the splice and the interstices between the conductors in the cable, which pressure is retained in the closure until the sealant cures or hardens.

Protection of cable splice

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Half Moon Bay, CA, United States of America

Patrick K Tsou