Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation curable coating composition comprising a radiation curable oligomer comprising a backbone derived from polypropylene glycol and a dimer acid based polyester polyol, wherein said coating composition, when cured, is having: a) a hardening temperature (Th) of from ?10° C. to about ?20° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 5.0 MPa; or b) a hardening temperature (Th) of from ?20° C. to about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 20.0 MPa; or c) a hardening temperature (Th) of lower than about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 70.0 MPa.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibers through chemical deposition on a substrate for deposition arranged vertically is described, comprising a chemical deposition chamber including at least one gripping member rotatably mounted about an axis Z-Z and adapted to hold at least one end of at least one elongated element constituting a substrate for chemical deposition for the formation of a preform for optical fibers. The chamber includes, moreover, at least one burner which is mobile along a direction Z substantially parallel to said axis Z-Z and adapted to deposit, on said at least one elongated element, a chemical substance for the formation of a preform and at least one suction element for collecting exhaust chemical substances, said at least one suction element being arranged on the opposite side to said at least one burner with respect to said axis Z-Z and being mobile along said direction Z.

Abstract: An induction furnace capable of drawing large diameter preforms of up to 130 mm is described. The induction furnace has top and bottom chimneys surrounding the entire preform during operation of the furnace with an inert conditioning gas which is introduced into the top chimney and flows downward through the furnace body and bottom chimney without significant turbulence. A distributor ring inside the top chimney redirects flow from a circumferential direction to a downward direction. The top chimney also includes a resilient seal to releasably hold the top of the preform. The bottom chimney has a smoothly decreasing cross-sectional area preventing turbulence at the furnace exit. The furnace insulation is preferably a rigid self-supporting graphite cylinder. A method of drawing large diameter preforms either to an optical fiber or to a preform of smaller diameter using such a furnace is also described.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a micro-structured optical fibre, an intermediate preform is made by forming a sol; pouring the sol in a cylindrical mould including a set of structural generating elements defining internal structural elements of the intermediate preform; transforming the sol into a gel so as to obtain a cylindrical gel body defining the intermediate preform; and removing the cylindrical intermediate preform from the mould.

Abstract: An optical fiber having: a) a glass portion; and b) at least one protective coating layer disposed to surround the glass portion, the protective coating layer having a modulus of elasticity value between ?40° C. and +60° C. between 5 MPa and 600 MPa, preferably not higher than 500 MPa, more preferably not higher than 450 MPa and much more preferably not higher than 300. Preferably the protective coating layer is a single protective coating layer which is disposed in contact with the glass portion.

Abstract: A method and device for vaporizing a liquid reactant. A vaporizing plate having a top surface defines a liquid flow channel, the channel being laterally delimited by edges having a height greater than a minimum thickness of liquid reactant required to generate vapor under film or nucleate boiling regime. A heating system is associated to the vaporizing plate for heating the liquid reactant over a minimum temperature required to generate vapor under nucleate or, preferably, film boiling regime. A cap covers the vaporizing plate to collect the vapor at a predetermined pressure and provided with a vapor exit and a liquid feeder feeds the liquid reactant onto the vaporizing plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for feeding a flow of gas to a burner for manufacturing an optical fibre preform, said burner comprising: a plurality of coaxial tubes, each two adjacent coaxial tubes defining an annular channel between themselves; an annular gas distribution chamber at one extremity of said annular channels and in fluid communication therewith, said annular distribution chamber being delimited in the radial direction by an inner and an outer surface; said method comprising introducing the flow of gas into the distribution chamber so that the direction of its radially outermost portion is tangential to the radially outer surface of the distribution chamber. The method allows obtaining a better gas velocity distribution in said annular channels. A burner for performing said method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for feeding a flow of gas to a burner for manufacturing an optical fiber preform. The burner has a plurality of coaxial tubes, each two adjacent coaxial tubes defining an annular channel between themselves; an annular gas distribution chamber at one extremity of the annular channels and in fluid communication therewith, the annular distribution chamber being delimited in the radial direction by an inner and an outer surface. The flow of gas is introduced into the distribution chamber so that the direction of its radially outermost portion is tangential to the radially outer surface of the distribution chamber. The method allows obtaining a better gas velocity distribution in the annular channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber includes the steps and/or means of: drawing a fiber from a heated preform by applying a pulling force to the fiber; spinning the fiber while it is drawn, wherein the step of spinning the fiber includes the sub-steps of winding the fiber on a spin roller by a winding arc, such that a friction force is generated between the fiber and the spin roller resulting from the winding arc and from the pulling force; axially displacing the spin roller such that the fiber is caused to roll over the spin roller surface by the friction force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation curable coating composition comprising a radiation curable oligomer comprising a backbone derived from polypropylene glycol and a dimer acid based polyester polyol, wherein said coating composition, when cured, is having: a) a hardening temperature (Th) of from ?10° C. to about ?20° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 5.0 MPa; or b) a hardening temperature (Th) of from ?20° C. to about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 20.0 MPa; or c) a hardening temperature (Th) of lower than about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at said Th of lower than 70.0 MPa.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres through chemical deposition on a substrate for deposition arranged vertically is described, comprising a chemical deposition chamber including at least one gripping member rotatably mounted about an axis Z-Z and adapted to hold at least one end of at least one elongated element constituting a substrate for chemical deposition for the formation of a preform for optical fibres. The chamber includes, moreover, at least one burner which is mobile along a direction Z substantially parallel to said axis Z-Z and adapted to deposit, on said at least one elongated element, a chemical substance for the formation of a preform and at least one suction element for collecting exhaust chemical substances, said at least one suction element being arranged on the opposite side to said at least one burner with respect to said axis Z-Z and being mobile along said direction Z.

Abstract: A device including at least one gripping member, rotatably mounted about an axis Z-Z, adapted to hold at least one end of at least one elongated element for chemical vapour deposition for forming a preform. The device includes at least one burner being mobile along a direction substantially parallel to the axis Z-Z and adapted to deposit, on the elongated element, a chemical substance for forming a preform, and at least one suction element arranged on the opposite side of the burner on a portion of a wall of the device on the opposite side of the gripping member from the burner. At least one air suction member, mobile along direction Z, is provided with motion synchronous with respect to the burner. The wall with the air suction member has a pair of respective upper and lower tapes rigidly associated with the burner.

Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres through chemical deposition on a substrate for deposition arranged vertically. A chemical deposition chamber includes at least one gripping member rotatably mounted about an axis Z-Z and adapted to hold at least one end of at least one elongated substrate for chemical deposition for the formation of a preform. The chamber includes at least one burner which is mobile along a direction Z substantially parallel to the axis Z-Z and adapted to deposit on the elongated substrate, a chemical substance for the formation of a preform and at least one suction element for collecting exhaust chemical substances. The suction element is arranged on the opposite side of the burner with respect to the axis Z-Z and is mobile along the direction Z and is positioned at a lower height than the burner.

Abstract: Multi-flame burner wherein each flame is separated with respect to the neighboring flame by at least one separating tube made of a heat resistant material, for example, quartz glass or ceramic material. The burner also has a plurality of co-axial pipes, preferably made of a metallic material. The cross section of the upper end of the separating tube can be modified in order to increase the deposition rate of the burner. Methods for manufacturing optical fibre preforms by vapour deposition using the multi-flame deposition burners.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a preform of glass material for optical fibres. A chemical deposition chamber, at least one burner mobile along a direction Z and adapted to deposit a chemical substance on at least an elongated element positioned along an axis Z-Z, at least one suction element mobile along the direction Z for collecting exhaust chemical substances, a collector tube associated with the at least one suction element and adapted to discharge the exhaust chemical substances outside the chemical deposition chamber through an exhaust opening formed on a wall of the chamber, and a coupling device between the collector tube and the wall at the exhaust opening, allowing sliding of the collector along the direction Z and along a direction X towards/away from the axis z-z.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a low-PMD optical fiber having a furnace for melting a lower portion of an optical preform; a traction device for pulling an optical fiber from the lower portion of an optical preform; a spinning device for imparting a substantially constant and unidirectional spin to the optical fiber as it is pulled, which causes the fiber to undergo an elastic torsion; a winding device for winding the optical fiber onto a reel; and a twisting device for imparting to the spun optical fiber a unidirectional twist in a direction opposite the elastic torsion, so as to control the residual twist in the optical fiber. A process for producing the fiber, an optical fiber and a cable are also provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber having an internal glass portion, a first coating layer surrounding the glass portion and a second coating layer surrounding the first coating layer. The first coating layer is formed from a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable composition having a radiation curable oligomer having a backbone derived from polypropylene glycol and a dimer acid based polyester polyol. The cured polymeric material has: (a) a hardening temperature (Th) from ?10° C. to about ?20° C. and a modulus measured at the Th lower than 5.0 MPa; or (b) a hardening temperature (Th) from ?20° C. to about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at the Th lower than 20.0 MPa; or (c) a hardening temperature (Th) lower than about ?30° C. and a modulus measured at the Th lower than 70.0 MPa.

Abstract: Method and burner for increasing the deposition rate of porous glass deposit in the manufacture of optical preforms, by modifying the cross-sectional shape of the flow of glass particles impacting onto a target preform. In particular, the cross-section of the flow of glass particles is modified by increasing the dimension of the flow from a circular cross-section to one having a major and minor axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the target preform.

Abstract: Optical fiber capable of controlling attenuation losses caused by microbending on the signal transmitted thereby. The optical fiber comprises: a) an internal glass portion; b) a first coating layer of a first polymeric material surrounding said glass portion; and c) a second coating layer of a second polymeric material surrounding said first coating layer, wherein said first polymeric material has a hardening temperature lower than ?10° C., an equilibrium tensile modulus lower than 1.5 MPa, wherein said first coating layer has a thickness of from 18 ?m to 28 ?m and wherein said second coating layer has a thickness of from 10 ?m to 20 ?m.

Abstract: Optical fiber having a glass portion; at least one protective coating of thermoplastic material having at least one thermoplastic elastomer; the thermoplastic material having the following characteristics: a modulus of elasticity value at +25° C. lower than 150 MPa, preferably at least 10 Mpa, more preferably higher than 20 Mpa, and a Vicat point higher than 85° C., preferably higher than 120° C., more preferably lower than 350° C. Preferably, the coating is a single protective coating directly positioned onto the glass portion.