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Independent testing has proved conclusively that CableCURE/CB treatment works.
In one trial series, abandoned cables were tested by outside consultants to measure the effects of CableCURE/CB treatment on water-damaged copper aircore cables. The test results were then compared with the findings of a previous report—the Bellcore Technical Audit Report.
Click here to view and print a published report on the results of this testing.
In 1995, Bellcore (now known as Telcordia Technologies) conducted laboratory tests on cable filled with CableCURE/CB material. They tested 37-pairs of a 100-pair, BKMH cable manufactured in 1986 on a DCM Industries' CMS-2PCX analyzer.
Bellcore tested corrosion of copper, stress cracking of polyethylene and stress cracking of polycarbonate. The results revealed that there was no copper corrosion and no stress cracking of polyethylene, or polycarbonate. Testers concluded that all requirements were met, as shown below.
To ensure conformation with industry standards, UtilX Corporation tested CableCURE/CB treatment on various abandoned cables of varying conditions. Wet cables were tested for mutual capacitance, noise, attenuation, T1 transmission and insulation resistance.
After filling, the mutual capacitance attained was very consistent and acceptable for higher speed transmission rates. Whether the cable was full of air, water, or both, the value attained after injection was predictable and was expected to be maintained for the life of the cable. The cables tested were able to transmit data at frequencies above 1.1 MHz.
The noise level on the wet cable dropped 9 dBrnc. Since each 3 dB represents a doubling of noise, the average noise on the pairs was nearly 16-times lower after the injection.
Changing the mutual capacitance, characteristic impedance, and longitudinal balance of cable by filling the space with CableCURE/CB material will affect the attenuation of signals traveling on these cables. This change may not be linear across all frequencies. The wet test cable had significantly less attenuation after injection.
It is important that the CableCURE/CB treatment not interrupt communications in progress on pairs within the cable. During the injection of one cable, water was forced to move as the CableCURE/CB fluid was injected. This could have caused transient changes in the transmission capability of the pairs and potential interruption of service. To investigate this possibility, T1 communications were transmitted across 4 pairs in the cable with 2 pairs caring AMI format and the other 2 carrying B8ZS format. These pairs were continuously monitored before, during and after injection. No errors were detected.
Water within the core can degrade insulation to the point where conductors leak or short out. CableCURE/CB material has a high dielectric strength and essentially re-insulates the pairs. The insulation resistance of the cables in this study was measured before and after injection. In the wet cable, 12 of 45 pairs tested had insulation resistance less than 10MW before injection (those pairs were shorted and grounded). After injection, the condition of the wet cable improved until all but four of the pairs reached this threshold. Therefore, if 10MW is used as an acceptance level for pairs, 75% of the bad pairs in this cable were recovered.
CableCURE/CB material is silicone-based. Our testing has proved that it is not hazardous to your cable, employees, or the environment.
The combined tests done by UtilX and Telcordia proved that CableCURE/CB treatment is an effective tool for the restoration of wet aircore cable and an excellent preventive measure to safeguard older aircore cables.
The treatment is significantly less costly than new cable replacement, and can be used as a tool for extending the service life of wet cable.
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