Flame retardant optical composite cable

Claim 1

An optical composite cable comprising (1) at least one insulated electric wire which comprises a core of a metallic conductor and an insulating coating of a fluorine resin, (2) at least one optical transmission line which comprises a buffered core of an optical fiber and a coating of a fluorine resin and (3) an outer sheath which envelops all the electric wires and optical transmission lines, wherein said outer sheath comprises: a radiation cured copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate containing 50 to 85% by weight of polymerized units derived from vinyl acetate; and a flame retarding and smoke suppressing amount of a finely divided filler mixture intimately admixed with said copolymer, said filler mixture consisting essentially of a first filler selected from the group consisting of hydroxides and carbonates and di- and tri-valent metals and a second filler which is zinc borate, the ratio by weight of said second filler to the filler mixture being within the range between 0.25 to 0.75.