Abstract: Radiation-curable compositions, and methods of making the same, for providing a wide variety of substrates with a durable, colored coating or colorant are disclosed. The color is at least in part provided by chromophore molecules that are covalently bonded to other components within the radiation-curable composition. A telecommunication element having a durable color identifying polymeric coating thereon is also disclosed. The telecommunication element comprises an elongated communication transmission medium, such as an optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon, and a radiation-cured polymeric coating having an identifying color applied on at least a portion of the transmission medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic cable that includes optical fibers and a water-swellable element, such as a powder-free fabric tape, that are enclosed within a buffer tube. Adhesive material, such as discrete domains of adhesive foam, may be optionally employed to provide adhesive coupling of the optical fibers and the water-swellable element.

Abstract: In a buffer tube arrangement, discrete domains of adhesive material provide adhesive coupling of a water-swellable element and an optical fiber bundle that includes a plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: A cable system and method including a cable or a microduct provided within the groove extending vertically into, but not through, a pavement. The cable has a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outerjacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. Provided within the microduct is a microduct cable including at least one transmission element. A cable including a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. The cable has a longitudinal thermal expansion force due to a change in temperature from 20° C. to 70° C. of less than 305 lbs when constrained.

Abstract: An improved method for curing coatings on optical fibers, without creating additional heat and compromising the manufacturing speed of optical fibers. The method of curing a coating on an optical fiber includes the steps of passing an optical fiber through a coating die, applying a coating to the optical fiber, curing the coating on the optical fiber and exposing the optical fiber to ultrasound to facilitate curing of the coating.

Abstract: A cable system and method including a cable or a microduct provided within the groove extending vertically into, but not through, a pavement. The cable has a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. Provided within the microduct is a microduct cable including at least one transmission element. A cable including a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. The cable has a longitudinal thermal expansion force due to a change in temperature from 20° C. to 70° C. of less than 305 lbs when constrained.

Abstract: A cable system and method including a cable or a microduct provided within the groove extending vertically into, but not through, a pavement. The cable has a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. Provided within the microduct is a microduct cable including at least one transmission element. A cable including a central strength member, at least one buffer tube stranded around the central strength member, an outer jacket surrounding the buffer tube and central strength member, and at least one transmission element provided within said at least one buffer tube. The cable has a longitudinal thermal expansion force due to a change in temperature from 20° C. to 70° C. of less than 305 lbs when constrained.

Abstract: A radiation-curable coating composition containing an oligomeric system containing (a) individual oligomers that each contain an oligomeric backbone having chemically tethered thereto one or more radiation-curable components and (b) individual oligomers that each contain an oligomeric backbone having chemically tethered thereto one or more formulation components of a radiation-curable coating composition, wherein each individual oligomer of the group of individual oligomers (a) may be the same as or different from each individual oligomer of the group of individual oligomers (b), and each formulation component is a photoinitiator group, an adhesion promoter group, or a fullerene.

Abstract: An apparatus and method efficiently focuses laser light to a target fiber to rapidly and evenly cure a coating on the fiber and to increase a draw rate for the fiber. The laser light is expanded and refocused to a strip of light having a diameter that is a multiple of the fiber diameter. The strip of light is applied to one side of the fiber and a reflection of the strip of light is focused to a second side of the fiber to provide uniform radiation of the fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for curing coatings on optical fibers, without creating additional heat and compromising the manufacturing speed of optical fibers. The present invention uses at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to a component of the optical fiber draw tower, such as the coating die, curing stage device or sheath, to emit ultrasound to the coating of the fiber. The use of ultrasound with current coating cure techniques, such as UV radiation curing, aids in accelerating the coating cure process through the effects of sonolysis, allowing an increase in current manufacturing speeds of optical fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Abstract: A composition for coating an optical waveguide, more specifically, an optical fiber, and optical fibers coated therewith. The coating composition is a radiation curable composition including an aliphatic epoxide, a urethane acrylate oligomer, a reactive diluent, and cationic and free-radical photoinitiators. The cationic photoinitiator acts upon the aliphatic epoxide while the free-radial photoinitiator acts upon the urethane acrylate oligomer. The resulting cured coating forms an interpenetrated polymer network. The properties of coatings in accordance with the invention including the glass transition temperature thereof, can be tailored to achieve advantageous coatings suitable for use as primary coatings and secondary coatings for an optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for curing coatings on optical fibers, without creating additional heat and compromising the manufacturing speed of optical fibers. The present invention uses at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to a component of the optical fiber draw tower, such as the coating die, curing stage device or sheath, to emit ultrasound to the coating of the fiber. The use of ultrasound with current coating cure techniques, such as UV radiation curing, aids in accelerating the coating cure process through the effects of sonolysis, allowing an increase in current manufacturing speeds of optical fibers.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyurethane type polymeric material for coating optical fibers, based on a fluorinated diol with formula I: CnF2n+1—A—CH2OCH2—C (CH2OH)2—R where n is 2 to 20, and A signifies —CH═CH or —CH2CH2—, and R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The invention also provides a fiber coated with this polymer which has been light-cured, and a fiber drawing method comprising a step of coating the fiber with a material of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Abstract: A Method for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. A water-jacketed UV lamp is provided adjacent a first reflector. An optical fiber is drawn between a second reflector opposite the first reflector and at least one quartz plate, while a cross flow of a cooling gas is passed around the optical fiber. Apertures may be formed in the second reflector for passing the cooling gas while the optical fiber is passed between the second reflector and the at least one quartz plate. Alternatively, two or more quartz plates may be provided and the cooling gas and the optical fiber passed between the quartz plates. The cooling gas experiences laminar flow.

Abstract: A radiation curable secondary coating composition for forming a secondary polymeric coating having good hydrophobic properties on a primary polymeric coating on an optical fiber is disclosed. The secondary coating composition is a mixture of a radiation curable composition capable of forming a polymeric coating, such as aliphatic difunctional and trifunctional urethane oligomers, and a hydrophobic agent selected from the group consisting of an aqueous dispersion of negatively charged hydrophobic resin particles, fluoropropylmethylcyclotrisiloxane, fluoropropylmethylsiloxarediol, trifluoropropylsiloxypolydimethylsiloxane, polybutadiene diacrylate and polybutadiene dimethacrylate.

Abstract: A radiation curable coating composition for forming a primary polymeric coating on having good adhesion to a glass optical fiber is disclosed. The coating composition is formed by a mixture of a base radiation curable liquid composition capable of forming a polymeric coating; and a hydrolyzed coupling agent mixture comprising N-beta (aminoethyl)-gamma-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-beta (aminoethyl)-gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, and gamma-(trimethoxylsilyl)propylacrylate.

Abstract: A non-carbon black pigment blend is mixed with a coating layer of an optical fiber to provide a black appearing colored optical fiber. The pigment blend does not absorb UV light and is formed by blending three primary colors including red, blue and yellow. The combination of these three primary colors creates a black appearing colored secondary coating. The proportions of the primary colors are controlled to provide the desired shade of black with, in general, no one coloration of pigment exceeding 45% by weight of the total pigment added to the secondary coating. The pigment blend may further include white pigment to provide a slate tone black appearing color. The proportion of white pigment, in general, not exceeding 10 percent by weight of the total pigment added to the secondary coating. The pigment is mixed as a concentrate which is added to a secondary coating layer for application to the optical fiber.