Abstract: Disclosed here are embodiments of an optical fiber ribbon. In the optical fiber ribbon, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a row. The optical fibers are embedded in a primary matrix. The primary matrix comprises a base resin and an opacifier pigment. A secondary matrix is disposed around the primary matrix, and a layer of printing is disposed between the primary matrix and the secondary matrix. The secondary matrix has a contrast ratio of from 0.2 to 0.9 as measured according to ASTM D2805. Embodiments of a method of preparing an optical fiber ribbon are also disclosed in which optical fibers are arranged in a row and embedded in a primary matrix. Characteristics of the optical fibers is printed onto the primary matrix, and the primary matrix is coated with a secondary matrix having a contrast ratio of from 0.2 to 0.9 according to ASTM D2805.

Abstract: The present description provides reduced-diameter multimode optical fibers. The optical fibers include a reduced-diameter glass fiber and/or reduced-thickness coatings. The overall diameter of the optical fibers is less than 210 ?m and examples with diameters less than 160 ?m are presented. Puncture resistant secondary coatings enable thinning of the secondary coating without compromising protection of the glass fiber. The optical fibers are suitable for data center applications and features high modal bandwidth, low attenuation, low microbending sensitivity, and puncture resistance in a compact form factor.

Abstract: Disclosed here are embodiments of an optical fiber ribbon. In the optical fiber ribbon, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a row. The optical fibers are embedded in a primary matrix. The primary matrix comprises a base resin and an opacifier pigment. A secondary matrix is disposed around the primary matrix, and a layer of printing is disposed between the primary matrix and the secondary matrix. The secondary matrix has a contrast ratio of from 0.2 to 0.9 as measured according to ASTM D2805. Embodiments of a method of preparing an optical fiber ribbon are also disclosed in which optical fibers are arranged in a row and embedded in a primary matrix. Characteristics of the optical fibers is printed onto the primary matrix, and the primary matrix is coated with a secondary matrix having a contrast ratio of from 0.2 to 0.9 according to ASTM D2805.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer diameter less than 220 ?m, a glass fiber that includes a glass core and a glass cladding, a primary coating, and a secondary coating. The glass cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass core. The primary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass fiber. The primary coating can have a Young's modulus less than 0.5 MPa and a thickness less than 30.0 ?m. The secondary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the primary coating. The secondary coating can have a thickness less than 27.5 ?m. A pullout force of the optical fiber can be less than a predetermined threshold when in an as-drawn state. The pullout force may increase by less than a factor of 2.0 upon aging the primary and secondary coatings on the glass fiber for at least 60 days.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer diameter less than 220 ?m, a glass fiber that includes a glass core and a glass cladding, a primary coating, and a secondary coating. The glass cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass core. The primary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass fiber. The primary coating can have a Young's modulus less than 0.5 MPa and a thickness less than 30.0 ?m. The secondary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the primary coating. The secondary coating can have a thickness less than 27.5 m. A pullout force of the optical fiber can be less than a predetermined threshold when in an as-drawn state. The pullout force may increase by less than a factor of 2.0 upon aging the primary and secondary coatings on the glass fiber for at least 60 days.

Abstract: The present description provides reduced-diameter multimode optical fibers. The optical fibers include a reduced-diameter glass fiber and/or reduced-thickness coatings. The overall diameter of the optical fibers is less than 210 ?m and examples with diameters less than 160 ?m are presented. Puncture resistant secondary coatings enable thinning of the secondary coating without compromising protection of the glass fiber. The optical fibers are suitable for data center applications and features high modal bandwidth, low attenuation, low microbending sensitivity, and puncture resistance in a compact form factor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides impact-resistant secondary coatings for optical fibers. The secondary coatings are obtained as cured products of a curable coating composition that includes an alkoxylated bisphenol-A diacrylate and an alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, or an alkoxylated bisphenol-A diacrylate and a tris[(acryloyloxy)alkyl] isocyanurate. The curable coating composition optionally includes bisphenol-A epoxy diacrylate and optionally lacks an alkoxylated bisphenol-A diacrylate having a degree of alkoxylation greater than 17.

Abstract: Fiber coatings with low Young's modulus, low fiber pullout force for fibers in the as-drawn state, and small time-dependent increases in pullout force as the fiber ages. The fiber coatings are cured products of coating compositions that include an oligomer formed from an isocyanate, a hydroxy acrylate compound and a polyol. The oligomer includes a polyether urethane acrylate and a di-adduct compound. The reaction mixture used to form the oligomer includes a molar ratio of isocyanate:hydroxy acrylate:polyol of n:m:p, where when p is 2, n is in the range from 3.0 to 5.0 and m is in the range from 1.50n-3 to 2.50n-5. Control of the n:m:p ratio leads to compositions that, when cured, provide coatings and cured products having low Young's modulus, low pullout force on glass, and weak variations with time as the fiber ages.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an outer diameter less than 220 ?m, a glass fiber that includes a glass core and a glass cladding, a primary coating, and a secondary coating. The glass cladding surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass core. The primary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the glass fiber. The primary coating can have a Young's modulus less than 0.5 MPa and a thickness less than 30.0 ?m. The secondary coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the primary coating. The secondary coating can have a thickness less than 27.5 m. A pullout force of the optical fiber can be less than a predetermined threshold when in an as-drawn state. The pullout force may increase by less than a factor of 2.0 upon aging the primary and secondary coatings on the glass fiber for at least 60 days.

Abstract: Fiber coatings with low Young's modulus, low fiber pullout force for fibers in the as-drawn state, and small time-dependent increases in pullout force as the fiber ages. The fiber coatings are cured products of coating compositions that include an oligomer formed from an isocyanate, a hydroxy acrylate compound and a polyol. The oligomer includes a polyether urethane acrylate and a di-adduct compound. The reaction mixture used to form the oligomer includes a molar ratio of isocyanate:hydroxy acrylate:polyol of n:m:p, where when p is 2, n is in the range from 3.0 to 5.0 and m is in the range from 1.50n-3 to 2.50n-5. Control of the n:m:p ratio leads to compositions that, when cured, provide coatings and cured products having low Young's modulus, low pullout force on glass, and weak variations with time as the fiber ages.

Abstract: An optical communication cable and related systems and methods are provided. The cable includes an adhesion control material between a reinforcement sheet and a cable jacket. The adhesion control material includes a carrier fluid and a particulate material dispersed in the carrier fluid. The method includes extruding a polymer material over the wrapped sheet of reinforcement material to form a cable jacket, and the adhesion control material is located between an outer surface of the wrapped reinforcement sheet and an inner surface of the cable jacket.

Abstract: A multi-purpose optical fiber with coating is provided. The optical fiber can function as a transmission fiber or as a coupling fiber for optical data links that features low coupling loss to silicon photonics lasers, VCSELs, single mode transmission fibers, multimode transmission fibers, and high speed receivers. The fiber includes a core, an optional inner cladding region, a depressed index cladding region, an outer cladding region, and a coating. The relative refractive index profile of the coupling fiber includes a small-radius core region with ? profile and a depressed index cladding region that facilitates low bending loss and high bandwidth. The coating thickness and overall diameter of the fiber is small.

Abstract: An optical cable is provided. The optical cable includes a tubular, elongate body having an inner surface defining a cavity extending between first and second ends of the elongate body and an optical transmission element located with the cavity. The optical cable includes a coupling or bonding structure non-permanently and non-rigidly joining the outer surface of the optical transmission element to the elongate body at a plurality of periodic contact zones such that relative movement between the optical transmission element and the elongate body is resisted.

Abstract: Fiber coatings with low Young's modulus, high tear strength, and/or high critical stress are realized with coating compositions that include an oligomeric material formed from an isocyanate, a hydroxy acrylate compound and a polyol. The oligomeric material includes a polyether urethane acrylate and a di-adduct compound. The reaction mixture used to form the oligomeric material includes a molar ratio of isocyanate:hydroxy acrylate:polyol of n:m:p, where when p is 2, n is in the range from 3.0 to 5.0 and m is in the range from 1.50n-3 to 2.50n-5. Control of the n:m:p ratio leads to compositions that, when cured, provide coatings and cured products having high critical stress, high tear strength, and a high ratio of tear strength to Young's modulus.

Abstract: A method includes applying a coupling agent solution to a major surface of a continuously moving glass ribbon to form a coupling agent coated region of the glass ribbon. The glass ribbon is a flexible glass ribbon having a thickness of at most about 300 ?m. The method includes heating the coupling agent coated region of the glass ribbon to form a coupling agent treated region of the glass ribbon and winding the glass ribbon onto a collection roll. A glass ribbon has a thickness of at most about 300 ?m and a major surface. At least a portion of the major surface includes a coupling agent treated region. Upon forming a polymeric layer on the coupling agent treated region at least five months after forming the coupling agent treated region, the polymeric layer has a peel force of at least 200 gf/in.

Abstract: A multi-purpose optical fiber with coating is provided. The optical fiber can function as a transmission fiber or as a coupling fiber for optical data links that features low coupling loss to silicon photonics lasers, VCSELs, single mode transmission fibers, multimode transmission fibers, and high speed receivers. The fiber includes a core, an optional inner cladding region, a depressed index cladding region, an outer cladding region, and a coating. The relative refractive index profile of the coupling fiber includes a small-radius core region with ? profile and a depressed index cladding region that facilitates low bending loss and high bandwidth. The coating thickness and overall diameter of the fiber is small.

Abstract: A method of removing a tight buffer coating from an optical fiber involves positioning an end section of the optical fiber next to an end of a tube, with at least a portion of the the end section including a primary coating and the tight buffer coating. The tube has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the primary coating and an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the tight buffer coating. The method also involves applying energy to heat the tight buffer coating, inserting the end section of the optical fiber into the tube so that the tight buffer coating contacts the end of the tube, and advancing the end section of the optical fiber along the tube. The tube removes the tight buffer coating from the primary coating as the end section of the optical fiber is advanced.

Abstract: Methods of applying adhesion promoters to optical fibers are described. The methods include direct application of an adhesion promoter onto the surface of the optical fiber. The adhesion promoter is applied in liquid form as a neat compound or as a component of a liquid solution to the surface of the optical fiber. The adhesion promoter bonds to the optical fiber and includes functional groups that permit bonding with an overlying polymer coating to improve the adhesive strength of the polymer coating to the fiber.

Abstract: An optical cable is provided. The optical cable includes a tubular, elongate body having an inner surface defining a cavity extending between first and second ends of the elongate body and an optical transmission element located with the cavity. The optical cable includes a coupling or bonding structure non-permanently and non-rigidly joining the outer surface of the optical transmission element to the elongate body at a plurality of periodic contact zones such that relative movement between the optical transmission element and the elongate body is resisted.

Abstract: An optical communication cable and related systems and methods are provided. The cable includes an adhesion control material between a reinforcement sheet and a cable jacket. The adhesion control material includes a carrier fluid and a particulate material dispersed in the carrier fluid. The method includes extruding a polymer material over the wrapped sheet of reinforcement material to form a cable jacket, and the adhesion control material is located between an outer surface of the wrapped reinforcement sheet and an inner surface of the cable jacket.