In accordance with the invention, an optical fiber is provided with a protective polymer coating that is substantially free (less than 0.1% by weight and preferably 0%) of adhesion promoters and coupling agents. Advantageously, in lieu of adhesion promoters, the primary polymer coating formulation is provided with an additive which will covalently bond with the fiber but not with the primary polymer.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/166,283, now abandoned, filed by L. Blyler et al. on Nov. 18, 1999 and entitled "Coated Optical Fiber With Enhanced Delamination Resistance And Thermally Enhanced Strippability", which is incorporated herein by reference.
Making a polymer-clad optical fiber comprising a step of determining at a plurality of temperatures the delamination resistance of the polymer coating from fiber. The delamination resistance at ambient temperature can be compared with a predetermined target value for delamination resistance in use. The delamination resistance at elevated temperature can be compared with a predetermined lower target value for ease of strippability. Coated optical fiber having delamination resistances outside the predetermined ranges will typically be rejected.
The present invention provides optical fiber coating systems and coated optical fibers having hydrophilic primary coatings. According to one embodiment of the invention, a coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding; a hydrophilic primary coating encapsulating the optical fiber, the primary coating having a Young's modulus less than about 2 MPa; and a secondary coating encapsulating the primary coating, wherein the primary coating exhibits substantially no water bubble formation and substantially no delamination when the coated optical fiber is soaked in water at 23.degree. C. for 30 days.
The present invention relates to a composition for coating optical fibers that includes a UV curable coating composition. The composition includes at least one component having at least one heterocyclic moiety capable of undergoing ring opening polymerization. The composition may also include at least one acrylate functional end group. The acrylate functional group may be on the same component as the heterocyclic moiety or on a second component. The cured composition has a Young's Modulus of at least about 100 MPa.
Fiber optic articles, assemblies, and cables preserve optical performance by using optical waveguides having a core, a cladding, and a coating system according to the present invention. Moreover, the optical articles, assemblies, and cables of the present invention may achieve performance levels that were previously unattainable, for instance, the present invention contemplates acceptable optical performance for wavelengths such as 1625 nm and higher. Additionally, articles, assemblies, and/or cables of the present invention advantageously preserve optical performance, i.e., have relatively low delta attenuation, when subjected to manufacturing processes and/or environmental conditions such as temperature cycling. In other words, the articles, assemblies, and cables can withstand increased stress/strain before having significant attenuation.
