Method of applying an ink layer onto an optical fiber

An optical fiber comprising:

• an optical waveguide;
• a cured primary coating layer surrounding the optical waveguide;
• a cured secondary coating layer surrounding the cured primary coating layer wherein the cured secondary coating layer has a glass transition temperature (Tg-sec) greater than or equal to 75° C.;
• and
• a cured tertiary ink coating layer surrounding the cured secondary coating layer, the cured tertiary ink coating layer comprising a coloring agent, wherein the cured tertiary ink coating layer has a glass transition temperature (Tg-ink) of greater than or equal to 75° C.

A method for manufacturing an optical fiber, the method comprising:

• drawing an optical waveguide from a glass preform at a rate greater than 30 m/s, the drawing comprising:
• applying a first coating material to surround the optical waveguide;
• curing the first coating material to form a cured first coating layer;
• applying an ink coating material to surround the cured first coating layer, the ink layer coating material comprising a coloring agent, the cured first coating layer having a temperature (Tsec) greater than or equal to 50° C. during the applying ink coating material;
• and
• curing the ink coating material to form a cured ink coating layer, the cured ink coating layer having a glass transition temperature (Tg-ink) greater than or equal to 75° C.;
• wherein the temperature of the cured first coating layer (Tsec) is less than or equal to Tg-ink+40° C.