Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (?10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min?1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable composition, comprising: a (meth)acrylate urethane compound derived from a polypropylene glycol or a propyleneoxide ethyleneoxide copolymer glycol having a molecular weight between 1,000 and 13,000 and an amount of unsaturation less than 0.01 meq/g. The liquid curable resin composition of the present invention has improved liquid stability and can produce cured products having superior mechanical characteristics by polymerization. The composition further comprises preferably a primary or secondary amine. The liquid curable resin composition can be used as a coating material for optical fibers, adhesives, and the like. The composition is particularly suitable as a coating material for optical fibers for which long-term stability is required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation curable colored coating composition for coloring a coated optical fiber wherein the coating, when disposed and cured to surround an optical fiber coated with an internal coating, and when said colored fiber is coated with a matrix material and assembled into an optical fiber ribbon, said colored coating has a degree of adhesion to the internal coating which is higher than the degree of adhesion to the matrix material and said optical fiber assembled into said optical fiber ribbon shows, upon aging for at least two weeks in water at 60° C., an increase in the attenuation of the transmitted signal at 1550 nm of less than 0.05 db/km with respect to the attenuation of the assembled optical fiber measured before aging. The invention also relates to said colored coating composition when used in an optical fiber ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable composition, comprising: a (meth)acrylate urethane compound derived from a polypropylene glycol or a propyleneoxide ethyleneoxide copolymer glycol having a molecular weight between 1,000 and 13,000 and an amount of unsaturation less than 0.01 meq/g. The liquid curable resin composition of the present invention has improved liquid stability and can produce cured products having superior mechanical characteristics by polymerization. The composition further comprises preferably a primary or secondary amine. The liquid curable resin composition can be used as a coating material for optical fibers, adhesives, and the like. The composition is particularly suitable as a coating material for optical fibers for which long-term stability is required.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (&sgr;10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min−1 and of at least about 1.4 times their dynamic modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation curable colored coating composition for coloring a coated optical fiber wherein the coating, when disposed and cured to surround an optical fiber coated with an internal coating, and when said colored fiber is coated with a matrix material and assembled into an optical fiber ribbon, said colored coating has a degree of adhesion to the internal coating which is higher than the degree of adhesion to the matrix material and said optical fiber assembled into said optical fiber ribbon shows, upon aging for at least two weeks in water at 60° C., an increase in the attenuation of the transmitted signal at 1550 nm of less than 0.05 db/km with respect to the attenuation of the assembled optical fiber measured before aging. The invention also relates to said colored coating composition when used in an optical fiber ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable composition, comprising: a (meth)acrylate urethane compound derived from a polypropylene glycol or a propyleneoxide ethyleneoxide copolymer glycol having a molecular weight between 1,000 and 13,000 and an amount of unsaturation less than 0.01 meq/g. The liquid curable resin composition of the present invention has improved liquid stability and can produce cured products having superior mechanical characteristics by polymerization. The composition further comprises preferably a primary or secondary amine. The liquid curable resin composition can be used as a coating material for optical fibers, adhesives, and the like. The composition is particularly suitable as a coating material for optical fibers for which long-term stability is required.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (&sgr;10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min−1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: Radiation-curable compositions are disclosed which, after cure, are substantially non-yellowing. The compositions are particularly tailored for coating and bundling of optical fibers. A first preferred composition is based on a polyether-type of oligomer diluted with reactive diluents. Isocyanurate structures are included in the composition to raise Tg. A second preferred composition is based on fatty oil comprising (meth)acrylate groups and bisphenol A derivatives comprising (meth)acrylate groups. Photoinitiators can be included to increase cure speed. The formulations do not include material amounts of ingredients which tend to cause yellowing or, in theory, extended conjugation in the cured compositions.

Abstract: Provided is an improved optical glass fiber, ribbon unit having the capability of providing mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained therein by application of finger pressure from a human hand. The ribbon unit is made of a plurality of coated optical glass fibers each further coated with a cured color-composition; and a matrix material which binds the plurality of color-coated optical glass fibers together, wherein a bonding force between the cured color-composition and the coated optical glass fibers is greater than a bonding force between said cured color-composition and said matrix material, and wherein the matrix material has been selected or formulated to provide a modulus and Tg sufficiently high such that when opposing pressure is applied to the ribbon unit using the fingers of a human hand, the matrix material buckles and separates from said color-coated optical glass optical fibers instead of compressing and absorbing the opposing pressure.