The Mechanical Properties of Thixotropic Gels and Their Effect on Attenuation in Optical Fiber Communication Cables

A colloidal gel typically is a semi-liquid substance comprising a thickening agent in a liquid carrier. All types of gelling agents form network structures in which the carrier is held by capillary forces. When a low stress is applied to a gel the material acts substantially solid-like, but if the stress is above a critical value the material flows and the viscosity decreases rapidly, a behavior frequently described as thixotropic.