Cable jackets having designed microstructures and methods for making cable jackets having designed microstructures

Optical fiber cables (1001) comprising at least one optical fiber transmission medium (1006) and at least one elongated polymeric protective component (1002) surrounding at least a portion of the optical fiber transmission medium. The elongated polymeric protective component (1002) comprises a polymeric matrix material and a plurality of microcapillaries containing a polymeric microcapillary material, wherein the polymeric matrix material has a higher flexural modulus than the polymeric microcapillary material. Also disclosed are dies and methods for making such optical fiber cables and protective components.