Abstract: Optical fibers are removably held in place on a payout bobbin using a silicone-based adhesive. The adhesive in a liquid carrier is applied to the optical fibers as they are wound onto the payout bobbin, and holds the fibers in place during the winding of subsequent turns. The fiber is readily unwound from the bobbin during payout without disruption of adjacent turns or layers, even after long-term storage. The preferred adhesive has about 5 percent by weight of a mixture of 25 percent by weight of a fluorosilicone and 75 percent by weight of a polydimethylsiloxane, and is carried for deposition in 95 percent by weight/volume of a liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An optical fiber (12) is removably held in place on a payout bobbin (14) using an adhesive. The adhesive is applied directly to the optical fiber (12) by passing the optical fiber (12) through a pressure-less die applicator (28) that applies a uniform thin layer of adhesive to the optical fiber (12), prior to winding onto the bobbin (14). Winding preferably proceeds continuously within layers, and from layer to layer.