Abstract: The present invention relates to optical fiber coating systems capable of providing a high degree of microbend protection to an optical fiber, and an optical fiber coated therewith. According to one embodiment of the invention, an optical fiber coating system includes a primary coating and a secondary coating, wherein when a ribbon having twelve large effective area optical fibers coated with the coating system is subjected to the ribbon optical performance test at a wavelength of 1550 nm, the average change in attenuation is about 0.020 dB/km or less.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition for an optical fiber coating. An inventive composition includes a non-thiol functional adhesion promoter and less than about 0.5 pph of a strength additive containing a thiol functional group. The invention further includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive composition. A second inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which contains an adhesion promoter and a non-silicon containing strength additive containing at least about one thiol functional group. A third inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which has a silane containing adhesion promoter and a strength additive containing at least about one halide functional group. The invention also includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive coating and methods of making an optical fiber including the inventive coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials suitable for use as secondary coatings of optical fibers or the re-coating of spliced optical fiber junctions. With regard to the latter use, the coating materials a preferably characterized by a Young's modulus that is at least about 1200 MPa, and an interfacial strength as measured by the rod and tube method of greater than 25 MPa.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention includes an optical fiber coating that exhibits the characteristics of a pressure sensitive adhesive. A viscoelastic window for the coating will include at least one set of coordinates that is within Quadrants 2, 3, or 4 or the Transition Flow Region of the Chang viscoelastic of the rheological master curves or will not include at least one set of coordinates that is not within Quadrant 1 of the Chang viscoelastic of the rheological master curves.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber and a curable coating composition for coating an optical fiber, includes a block copolymer comprising at least one hard block and at least one soft block, wherein said hard block has a Tg greater than the Tg of the soft block. The coating may further include at least one reactive monomer. A method for making a coated optical fiber, includes providing an optical fiber; coating the optical fiber with a polymerizable composition including a block copolymer comprising at least one hard block and at least one soft block, wherein said hard block has a Tg greater than the Tg of the soft block. The coating may further include at least one reactive monomer. The method further includes polymerizing the composition under conditions effective to form a coating over the optical fiber.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a composition for an optical fiber coating. The cured composition includes at least one monomer and at least one compound from the following group of compounds that consist of an ultra-violet light absorber, a hindered amine light stabilizer, and an optical brightener. The invention also includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive coating.

Abstract: The disclosed coated optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a cladding. At least a segment of the fiber is coated with a photopolymerizable coating composition. The photopolymerizable coating composition is a mixture of at least about 60% of a first polyurethane acrylate coating having a Young's modulus of at least about 400 MPa and about 5-40% of a second polyurethane coating having a Young's modulus of no more than about 50 MPa. The invention further includes a method of making the coated optical fiber. The method includes the steps of blending the photopolymerizable coating composition as recited above and splicing an end section of a first optical fiber having a core and a cladding to an end section of a second optical fiber having a core and a cladding, thereby forming a resultant optical fiber.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an optical fiber coating compositions having, when cured, a Young's modulus of greater than about 950 MPa and a film to film coefficient of friction of less than about 0.44. Another aspect of the present invention relates to an coated optical fiber having a coating having a modulus of greater than about 950 MPa and a fiber to fiber coefficient of friction of less than about 0.74 measured at a speed of about 0.423 cm/sec and with a weight of about 100 grams. The coatings may include additives such as surfactants, surface agents, slip additives, waxes, and micronized polytetrafluoroethylene. The coated optical fibers of the present invention can be freely and smoothly wound on a spool without the formation of fiber loops, crossovers, or other defects.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a composition for an optical fiber coating. The cured composition includes at least one monomer and at least one compound from the following group of compounds that consist of an ultra-violet light absorber, a hindered amine light stabilizer, and an optical brightener. The invention also includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive coating.

Abstract: The invention includes an optical fiber coating that exhibits the characteristics of a pressure sensitive adhesive. A viscoelastic window for the coating will include at least one set of coordinates that is within Quadrants 2, 3, or 4 or the Transition Flow Region of the Chang viscoelastic of the Theological master curves or will not include at least one set of coordinates that is not within Quadrant 1 of the Chang viscoelastic of the Theological master curves.

Abstract: The invention disclosed includes a coating composition for siliceous surfaces. The coating includes at least one component from the group consisting of poly(alkoxy)silane, poly(halo)silane, alkoxysilane, halosilane, and mixtures thereof and a catalyst compound which generates a proton to hydrolyze the component when exposed to radiation. Preferably, the catalyst is a photo-acid. The invention also includes a method of coating the optical fiber. The aforementioned coating is applied to an exterior surface of the fiber. A proton is generated to promote the hydrolysis of the component. The invention further includes a method of accelerating adhesion between the exterior surface of the article and the coating. The inventive coating is applied to the surface of the fiber and the coating is exposed to a radiation source.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition for an optical fiber coating. An inventive composition includes a non-thiol functional adhesion promoter and less than about 0.5 pph of a strength additive containing a thiol functional group. The invention further includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive composition. A second inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which contains an adhesion promoter and a non- silicon containing strength additive containing at least about one thiol functional group. A third inventive composition includes a photo-polymerizable composition which has a silane containing adhesion promoter and a strength additive containing at least about one halide functional group. The invention also includes an optical fiber coated with the inventive coating and methods of making an optical fiber including the inventive coating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of protecting glass optical fiber preforms and glass precursor elements for making optical fiber preforms, wherein the preform or glass precursor element is stored within a protective bag. The protective bag preferably has anti-static agents incorporated therein. The protective bags can be employed to protect any glass precursor element used in making optical fiber preforms, for example, glass core canes, glass tubes, or the optical fiber preforms themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for preparing optical fiber coatings, the composition including a polymerizable base composition, containing at least one monomer and optionally at least one oligomer, wherein the polymerizable base composition is substantially free of unsaturated epoxidized diene polymers, and a tackifier present in an amount effective to modify a time-sensitive rheological property of a polymerization product of the composition. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of modifying a time-sensitive rheological property of an optical fiber coating by introducing into a polymerizable composition a tackifier in an amount effective to modify a time-sensitive rheological property of the polymerization product of the polymerizable composition. Also disclosed are an optical fiber, a fiber optic ribbon, and a fiber bundle that contain coating(s) prepared from a composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A curable coating composition for coating an optical fiber, includes a block copolymer comprising at least one hard block and at least one soft block, wherein said hard block has a Tg greater than the Tg of the soft block. The coating further includes at least one reactive monomer. A coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having at least one coating layer thereon having a first component which includes a block copolymer comprising at least one hard block and at least one soft block, wherein said hard block has a Tg greater than the Tg of the soft block. The coating further includes at least one reactive monomer. A method for making a coated optical fiber, includes providing an optical fiber; coating the optical fiber with a polymerizable composition including a block copolymer comprising at least one hard block and at least one soft block, wherein said hard block has a Tg greater than the Tg of the soft block. The coating further includes at least one reactive monomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for preparing optical fiber coatings, the composition including a polymerizable base composition, containing at least one monomer and optionally at least one oligomer, wherein the polymerizable base composition is substantially free of unsaturated epoxidized diene polymers, and a tackifier present in an amount effective to modify a time-sensitive rheological property of a polymerization product of the composition. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of modifying a time-sensitive theological property of an optical fiber coating by introducing into a polymerizable composition a tackifier in an amount effective to modify a time-sensitive rheological property of the polymerization product of the polymerizable composition. Also disclosed are an optical fiber, a fiber optic ribbon, and a fiber bundle that contain coating(s) prepared from a composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention disclosed includes a coating composition for siliceous surfaces. The coating includes at least one component from the group consisting of poly(alkoxy)silane, poly(halo)silane, alkoxysilane, halosilane, and mixtures thereof and a catalyst compound which generates a proton to hydrolyze the component when exposed to radiation. Preferably, the catalyst is a photo-acid. The invention also includes a method of coating the optical fiber. The aforementioned coating is applied to an exterior surface of the fiber. A proton is generated to promote the hydrolysis of the component. The invention further includes a method of accelerating adhesion between the exterior surface of the article and the coating. The inventive coating is applied to the surface of the fiber and the coating is exposed to a radiation source.

Abstract: The disclosed coated optical fiber includes a core surrounded by a cladding. At least a segment of the fiber is coated with a photopolymerizable coating composition. The photopolymerizable coating composition is a mixture of at least about 60% of a first polyurethane acrylate coating having a Young's modulus of at least about 400 MPa and about 5-40% of a second polyurethane coating having a Young's modulus of no more than about 50 MPa. The invention further includes a method of making the coated optical fiber. The method includes the steps of blending the photopolymerizable coating composition as recited above and splicing an end section of a first optical fiber having a core and a cladding to an end section of a second optical fiber having a core and a cladding, thereby forming a resultant optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for coating optical fibers that includes a UV curable coating composition. The composition when cured exhibits a Young's modulus of at least about 950 MPa. The cured inventive coating composition further exhibits either a film to film coefficient of friction of about 0.44 or less or a fiber to fiber coefficient of friction of about 0.74 or less. The invention further includes a fiber coated with the aforementioned inventive coating composition.