<s>
In	O
a	O
fiber	B-Architecture
optic	I-Architecture
cable	O
,	O
a	O
buffer	B-Device
is	O
one	O
type	O
of	O
component	O
used	O
to	O
encapsulate	O
one	O
or	O
more	O
optical	B-Architecture
fibers	I-Architecture
for	O
the	O
purpose	O
of	O
providing	O
such	O
functions	O
as	O
mechanical	O
isolation	O
,	O
protection	O
from	O
physical	O
damage	O
and	O
fiber	O
identification	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
buffer	B-Device
may	O
take	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
miniature	O
conduit	O
,	O
contained	O
within	O
the	O
cable	O
and	O
called	O
a	O
"	O
loose	O
buffer	B-Device
"	O
,	O
or	O
"	O
loose	O
buffer	B-Device
tube	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
loose	O
buffer	B-Device
may	O
contain	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
fiber	O
,	O
and	O
sometimes	O
contains	O
a	O
lubricating	O
gel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
"	O
tight	B-Device
buffer	I-Device
"	O
consists	O
of	O
a	O
polymer	B-Language
coating	O
in	O
intimate	O
contact	O
with	O
the	O
primary	O
coating	O
applied	O
to	O
the	O
fiber	O
during	O
manufacture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Buffer	B-Device
application	O
methods	O
include	O
spraying	O
,	O
dipping	O
,	O
extrusion	O
and	O
electrostatic	O
methods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Materials	O
used	O
to	O
create	O
buffers	B-Device
can	O
include	O
fluoropolymers	O
such	O
as	O
polyvinylidene	O
fluoride	O
(	O
Kynar	O
)	O
,	O
polytetrafluoroethylene	O
(	O
Teflon	O
)	O
,	O
or	O
polyurethane	O
.	O
</s>
