Methods and apparatuses for UV curing of optical fiber coatings

An optical fiber curing component, comprising:

• a first tube comprising a first body defining a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, the first tube defining a first aperture and a second aperture on opposite ends of a first cavity, wherein the first tube defines a central axis extending through the first cavity;
• a plurality of light sources coupled to the first body of the first tube;
• and
• a silica glass article having an anti-reflective coating, wherein the silica glass article is disposed between at least one light source of the plurality of light sources and the central axis of the first tube, wherein the silica glass article comprises at least one of:
• one or more windows disposed within the first body of the first tube, or
• a second tube within the cavity.

A method of coating an optical fiber, comprising:

• applying a curable composition on a moving optical fiber;
• passing the optical fiber and the curable composition along a central axis of a curing component comprising:
• a first tube comprising a first body defining a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, the first tube defining a first aperture and a second aperture on opposite ends of a first cavity, wherein the first tube defines a central axis extending through the first cavity,
• a plurality of light sources coupled to the first body of the first tube and configured to emit light having a wavelength range from about 250 nm to about 410 nm toward the central axis of the first tube, wherein each of the light sources intersect a common plane defined perpendicular to the central axis of the first tube,
• a silica glass article having an anti-reflective coating, wherein the silica glass article is disposed between each of the plurality of light sources and the central axis of the first tube, and
• a reflective coating positioned on the interior surface of the first body and configured to reflect the light toward the central axis of the first tube;
• emitting light from the plurality of light sources toward the central axis of the curing component;
• reflecting the light off of the reflective coating positioned on the interior surface of the curing component;
• and
• curing the curable composition into a coating using the light.