Abstract: A method of coloring optical fibers during the optical fiber drawing that includes the steps of feeding a natural fiber coating material and a colorant to a mixer; mixing the natural fiber coating material and the colorant in the mixer to obtain a colored coating material; and supplying the colored coating material to a coating die. The feeding step includes exerting on the natural fiber coating a first gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter; and exerting on the colorant a second gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter.

Abstract: A method of coloring optical fibers during the optical fiber drawing that includes the steps of feeding a natural fiber coating material and a colorant to a mixer; mixing the natural fiber coating material and the colorant in the mixer to obtain a colored coating material; and supplying the colored coating material to a coating die. The feeding step includes exerting on the natural fiber coating a first gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter; and exerting on the colorant a second gas pressure variable with at least one fiber drawing parameter.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an optical waveguide, a first coating layer disposed to surround the optical waveguide and a second coating layer disposed to surround the first coating layer, wherein the first coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable composition including at least one (meth)acrylate monomer esterified with at least one branched alcohol having from 9 to 12 carbon atoms, and the second coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable (meth)acrylate composition including from 0.8% to 1.5% by weight of silica, based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for coloring optical fibers, includes: a first reservoir for containing a natural coating material to be applied onto an optical fiber being drawn; a second reservoir for containing a colorant to be mixed with the natural coating material; a mixer in fluid communication with the first and second reservoirs to receive a first flow of natural coating material and a second flow of colorant and to mix the first and second flows to obtain a colored coating material; a coating die in fluid communication with the mixer to receive the flow of colored coating material and to apply it onto the optical fiber being drawn.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an optical waveguide, a first coating layer disposed to surround the optical waveguide and a second coating layer disposed to surround the first coating layer, wherein the first coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable composition including at least one (meth)acrylate monomer esterified with at least one branched alcohol having from 9 to 12 carbon atoms, and the second coating layer is formed by a cured polymeric material obtained by curing a radiation curable (meth)acrylate composition including from 0.8% to 1.5% by weight of silica, based on the total weight of the composition.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ancillary elements of an electric power distribution network, includes an optical fiber path associated with the ancillary elements to be monitored, respective optical branches branching from the optical fiber path, wherein each optical branch includes at least one passive optical attenuator operatively coupled to, and having an attenuation adapted to change in response to a change in operating conditions of the respective ancillary element, and an optical reflector; an optical radiation source adapted to inject optical radiation into the optical fiber path; and an optical receiver adapted to detect back-reflected optical radiation reflected by the optical reflector; the monitoring system being further adapted to recognize a position of at least one of the ancillary elements based on a characteristic of the back-reflected optical radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for coloring optical fibers, includes: a first reservoir for containing a natural coating material to be applied onto an optical fiber being drawn; a second reservoir for containing a colorant to be mixed with the natural coating material; a mixer in fluid communication with the first and second reservoirs to receive a first flow of natural coating material and a second flow of colorant and to mix the first and second flows to obtain a colored coating material; a coating die in fluid communication with the mixer to receive the flow of colored coating material and to apply it onto the optical fiber being drawn.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ancillary elements of an electric power distribution network, includes an optical fiber path associated with the ancillary elements to be monitored, respective optical branches branching from the optical fiber path, wherein each optical branch includes at least one passive optical attenuator operatively coupled to, and having an attenuation adapted to change in response to a change in operating conditions of the respective ancillary element, and an optical reflector; an optical radiation source adapted to inject optical radiation into the optical fiber path; and an optical receiver adapted to detect back-reflected optical radiation reflected by the optical reflector; the monitoring system being further adapted to recognize a position of at least one of the ancillary elements based on a characteristic of the back-reflected optical radiation.