Abstract: An environmentally acceptable catalyst, coating system, and methods for thermal cure silicone release coatings that utilize bismuth (“Bi”) catalyst to retain properties of tin (“Sn”)-catalyzed systems but do not have the toxicity and environmental hazards associated therewith. The coating systems and methods also provide a laminate that shows reduced orange peel distortion over time compared with tin (“Sn”)-catalyzed systems and methods.

Abstract: An environmentally acceptable catalyst, coating system, and methods for thermal cure silicone release coatings that utilize bismuth (“Bi”) catalyst to retain properties of tin (“Sn”)-catalyzed systems but do not have the toxicity and environmental hazards associated therewith. The coating systems and methods also provide a laminate that shows reduced orange peel distortion over time compared with tin (“Sn”)-catalyzed systems and methods.

Abstract: The invention provides intermediates of the formula: as well as a method of their preparation by reacting a thiol having at least two hydroxyl groups with a mono-unsaturated organic compound in the presence of a base catalyst. A polymerizable urethane acrylate oligomer or urethane methacrylate oligomer is formed by reacting a polyisocyanate with the intermediate. The polymerizable urethane acrylate oligomer or urethane methacrylate is blended with a polymerization initiator to form a composition which is useful in such applications as adhesives.

Abstract: Urethane acrylate oligomers, suitable for use in coatings and like formulations, prepared by capping polyols having hydroxyl functionality (fOH) equal to or greater than 4, using 2-isocyanatoethyl acrylate or 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate, thereby avoiding the gelation that normally occurs in attempting to prepare urethane acrylates with high/OH polyols by reaction with diisocyanates. Reaction of low molecular weight polyols, containing two or three hydroxyl groups, with mono isocyanate(meth)acrylate monomers produces useful, low viscosity urethane (meth)acrylate oligomers. Specifically, capping of a mole of 2,2-dihydroxymethyl butanoic acid by two moles of 2-isocyanatoethyl acrylate molecules leads to the formation of radiation curable water-soluble liquid monomers that are transparent and soluble in water. Oligomers obtained by capping with 2-isocyanatoethyl acrylate demonstrate enhanced adhesion to glass and stainless steel.

Abstract: The invention provides intermediates of the formula: as well as a method of their preparation by reacting a thiol having at least two hydroxyl groups with a mono-unsaturated organic compound in the presence of a base catalyst. A polymerizable urethane acrylate oligomer or urethane methacrylate oligomer is formed by reacting a polyisocyanate with the intermediate. The polymerizable urethane acrylate oligomer or urethane methacrylate is blended with a polymerization initiator to form a composition which is useful in such applications as adhesives.

Abstract: A polymerizable acrylate or epoxy composition includes a dye comprised of a conjugated system containing a chromophore that is subject to effective decoupling, by a reactive alkylating species generated by the polymerization initiator, to produce a permanent loss of color and thereby to indicate that curing has occurred.

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 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: A radiation-curable polyurethane is obtained from the reaction of a low free diisocyanate polyurethane prepolymer and an acrylic monomer.

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: A fast-curing, low viscosity composition for coating an optical waveguide, more specifically, an optical fiber, and optical fibers coated therewith are disclosed. The coating composition is a radiation curable composition containing: a radiation curable oligomer, a free radical photoinitiator, and a mixture of reactive diluents including a low molecular weight (meth)acrylate having tri-, tetra-, penta- or higher functionality.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber includes a fiber coating having an unblended primary portion on the optical fiber, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion intermediate the unblended primary and secondary portions. The thickness of the blended portion is greater than or equal to about 10% but less than 100% of the thickness of the fiber coating. An optical fiber ribbon includes a ribbon matrix similarly having an unblended primary portion, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion between the unblended primary portion and unblended secondary portion. A method for fabricating a coated optical fiber or optical fiber ribbon includes applying a primary portion material to the optical fiber or plurality of coated optical fibers, and applying a secondary portion material in a manner selected to provide a blend of the primary portion material and the secondary portion material. An applicator apparatus includes means for performing the described steps.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber includes a fiber coating having an unblended primary portion on the optical fiber, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion intermediate the unblended primary and secondary portions. The thickness of the blended portion is greater than or equal to about 10% but less than 100% of the thickness of the fiber coating. An optical fiber ribbon includes a ribbon matrix similarly having an unblended primary portion, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion between the unblended primary portion and unblended secondary portion. A method for fabricating a coated optical fiber or optical fiber ribbon includes applying a primary portion material to the optical fiber or plurality of coated optical fibers, and applying a secondary portion material in a manner selected to provide a blend of the primary portion material and the secondary portion material. An applicator apparatus includes means for performing the described steps.

Abstract: A composition for coating an optical waveguide, more specifically, an optical fiber, and optical fibers coated therewith are disclosed. The coating composition is a radiation curable composition containing: a radiation curable oligomer, a reactive diluent or diluents, a free radical photoinitiator, and fullerenes.

Abstract: A composition for coating an optical waveguide, more specifically, an optical fiber, and optical fibers coated therewith are disclosed. The coating composition is a radiation curable composition containing: a radiation curable oligomer, a reactive diluent or diluents, a free radical photoinitiator, and fullerenes.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation-curable coating composition containing oligomers that each have two end groups X1 and X2, wherein the end groups X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, are a photoinitiator group or an adhesion promoter group. The coating composition may exclude the presence of non-reactive photoinitiator groups and non-reactive adhesion promoter groups, each of which would fail to covalently bond itself to an oligomer backbone.

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: A fast-curing, low viscosity composition for coating an optical waveguide, more specifically, an optical fiber, and optical fibers coated therewith are disclosed. The coating composition is a radiation curable composition containing: a radiation curable oligomer, a free radical photoinitiator, and a mixture of reactive diluents including a low molecular weight (meth)acrylate having tri-, tetra-, penta- or higher functionality.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation-curable coating composition containing oligomers that each have two end groups X1 and X2, wherein the end groups X1 and X2, which may be the same or different, are a photoinitiator group or an adhesion promoter group. The coating composition may exclude the presence of non-reactive photoinitiator groups and non-reactive adhesion promoter groups, each of which would fail to covalently bond itself to an oligomer backbone.