Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rapid on-line coating of optical fibers with two-package polymer coating systems utilizing conventional liquid fiber coaters is described. The A and B parts of the two-package coating system are continuously combined and mixed together to form a polymerizable coating liquid as the fiber is drawn. This polymerizable coating liquid is continuously delivered to the liquid coater at a rate corresponding to the rate at which it is applied to the fiber, suitable control of the delivery rate being achieved via the use of a feedback signal to the coating liquid delivery system from, e.g., the fiber coater.

Abstract: A silicone-based composite coating system for a glass optical fiber, the system comprising a silicone polymer undercoating component and a silicone-polyimide block copolymer overcoating component, is provided. The coating system can be applied entirely on-line, improves the handling characteristics of the fibers over conventional silicone-coated fibers, offers an excellent combination of optical and elastic properties, and does not compromise the high-temperature operating characteristics of silicone-based coating systems.