Back to results
US 5,146,531 AGranted
Ultraviolet radiation-curable coatings for optical fibers and optical fibers coated therewith
AssigneeBorden, Inc.
InventorPaul J. Shustack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation-curable primary and secondary coating compositions for optical fibers are disclosed. The primary coatings comprise a hydrocarbon polyol-based acrylated or methacrylated aliphatic urethane oligomer; an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer; a refractive index modifying monomer or oligomer; a silane adhesion promoter; and a photoinitiator. The secondary coatings comprise a polyester-based aliphatic urethane acrylate or methacrylate oligomer; an acrylated or methacrylated compound; and a photoinitiator. Also disclosed are optical fibers coated with the secondary coating alone or with the primary and secondary coatings of the invention.
Claims86
A radiation-curable primary coating for an optical fiber comprising
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an encapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
- (C) from about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a monomer or oligomer having (1) an aromatic moiety, (2) moiety containing acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, and (3) a hydrocarbon moiety, which monomer or oligomer is capable of increasing the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) from about 0.1 percent to about 3.0 percent by weight of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 1.0 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight based on total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
6 more elements
A radiation-curable primary coating for an optical fiber, comprising
- (A) from about 45 percent to about 65 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer having as a backbone a hydrogenated 1,2-polybutadiene polymer;
- (B) from about 10 percent to about 20 percent by weight of lauryl acrylate;
- (C) from about 15 percent to about 30 percent by weight of polypropylene glycol nonylphenyl ether acrylate;
- (D) from about 0.3 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of an ethoxy-substituted vinyl-functional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 2.0 percent to about 7.0 percent by weight of hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight, based upon total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
4 more elements
A radiation-curable secondary coating for an optical fiber comprising
- (I) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of an acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate;
- isobornyl methacrylate;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol diacrylates;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol dimethacrylates;
- and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (III) from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator, wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight based on total weight of (I), (II) and (III), and wherein said coating is substantially free of acrylated epoxies.
5 more elements
A radiation-curable secondary coating for an optical fiber comprising
- (I) from about 40 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 30 percent to about 40 percent by weight of a mixture of isobornyl acrylate and hexanediol diacrylate;
- and
- (III) from about 2.0 percent to about 7.0 percent by weight of hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone photoinitiator, wherein all of the stated percentages are by weight based upon total weight of (I), (II) and (III).
1 more element
A coated optical fiber comprising an optical fiber, a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer,
- wherein said primary coating layer comprises
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight, based upon total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E), of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight, of an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
- (C) from about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a monomer or oligomer having (1) an aromatic moiety, (2) a moiety containing available acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, and (3) a hydrocarbon moiety, which monomer or oligomer is capable of increasing the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) from about 0.1 percent to about 3.0 percent by weight of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 1.0 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight based on total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E),
- and said secondary coating layer comprises
- (I) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of an acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate;
- isobornyl methacrylate;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol diacrylates;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol dimethacrylates;
- and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (III) from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the above percentages for said secondary coating are percentages by weight based on the total weight of (I), (II), and (III).
17 more elements
A coated optical fiber comprising an optical fiber having applied thereto a coating layer comprising
- (I) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of an acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate;
- isobornyl methacrylate;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol diacrylates;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol dimethacrylates;
- and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (III) from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the above stated percentages are percentages by weight based on the total weight of (I), (II) and (III), and wherein said coating layer is substantially free of acrylated epoxies.
6 more elements
A coated optical fiber comprising an optical fiber having applied thereto a coating layer, comprising
- (I) from about 30 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 25 percent to about 50 percent by weight of a mixture of isobornyl acrylate and hexanediol diacrylate;
- and
- (III) from about 1.5 percent to about 8 percent by weight of hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are by weight based upon total weight of (I), (II) and (III), and wherein said coating layer is substantially free of acrylated epoxies.
2 more elements
A coated optical fiber comprising
- a glass optical fiber, and
- a continuous coating applied to and surrounding said fiber and formed of a cured oligomeric material having a Tg of -20.degree. C. or lower, yet high enough so that its Instron modulus increases as temperature is lowered,
- wherein said oligomeric material comprises
- an acrylated urethane oligomer;
- an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
- and
- a mercaptofunctional chain transfer agent.
4 more elements
A process for preparing a coated optical fiber comprising
- (i) applying to an optical fiber a primary coating layer comprising
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
- (C) from about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a monomer or oligomer having (1) an aromatic moiety, (2) a moiety containing acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, and (3) a hydrocarbon moiety, which monomer or oligomer is capable of increasing the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) from about 0.1 percent to about 3.0 percent by weight of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 1.0 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator;
- and
- (ii) applying atop said primary coating layer a secondary coating layer comprising
- (I) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight, based upon total weight of (I), (II) and (III), of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight, based upon total weight of (I), (II) and (III), of an acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate;
- isobornyl methacrylate;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol diacrylates;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol dimethacrylates;
- and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (III) from about 1 percent to about 10 percent by weight, based upon total weight of (I), (II) and (III), of a photoinitiator.
16 more elements
A radiation-curable coating for the surface of an optically useful article comprising
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbons in the alkyl moiety;
- (C) an effective amount not in excess of about 60 percent of a monomer or oligomer containing acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, that is capable of adjusting the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) a small but effective amount of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) a small but effective amount of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight based on total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
6 more elements
A radiation-curable coating comprising
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) a low Tg, soft curing, hydrocarbon monofunctional acrylate monomer;
- (C) from about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a monomer or oligomer which is capable of increasing the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) from about 0.1 percent to about 3.0 percent by weight of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- (E) from about 1.0 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator;
- (F) a chain transfer agent comprising a hydrocarbon chain having at least eight carbons in its hydrocarbon chain;
- and
- (G) a stabilizer or antioxidant that imparts added shelf life and storage stability to the coating composition,
- the combination of (B), (C), and (D) with (A) having the effect of producing a coating of mutually compatible ingredients that is radiation-curable and that has a lower Tg and a lower Instron modulus, at 25.degree. C., than (A) alone, and that has improved storage stability as compared to a composition of (A), (B), and (C) alone.
8 more elements
A radiation-curable coating composition comprising
- (a) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of said composition of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from about 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (b) at least one low Tg, soft curing, hydrocarbon monofunctional acrylate monomer;
- (c) a chain transfer agent;
- (d) a stabilizer or antioxidant that imparts added shelf life and storage stability to the coating composition, and
- the combination of (b), (c), and (d) with (a) having the effect of producing a coating composition of mutually compatible ingredients that is radiation-curable.
4 more elements
A radiation-curable primary coating for an optical fiber, comprising
- (A) from about 45 percent to about 65 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer having as a backbone a hydrogenated 1,2-polybutadiene polymer;
- (B) from about 10 percent to about 20 percent by weight of lauryl acrylate;
- (C) from about 15 percent to about 30 percent by weight of polypropylene glycol nonylphenyl ether acrylate;
- (D) from about 0.3 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 2.0 percent to about 7.0 percent by weight of hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight, based upon total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
4 more elements
A radiation-curable coating composition comprising
- (I) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- (II) from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of an acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate;
- isobornyl methacrylate;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol diacrylates;
- C.sub.6 to C.sub.16 saturated hydrocarbon diol dimethacrylates;
- and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (III) an amount of a photoinitiator that is effective to initiate radiation curing of said coating,
- wherein all of the above stated percentages are percentages by weight based on the total weight of (I), (II) and (III),
- and wherein said coating composition is substantially free of acrylated epoxies.
7 more elements
A radiation-curable primary coating for an optical fiber, comprising
- (A) from about 45 percent to about 65 percent by weight of an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer having as a backbone a hydrogenated 1,2-polybutadiene polymer;
- (B) from about 10 percent to about 20 percent by weight of lauryl acrylate;
- (C) from about 15 percent to about 30 percent by weight of polypropylene glycol nonylphenyl ether acrylate;
- (D) from about 0.3 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of gamma mercaptopropyl trimethoxy silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 2.0 percent to about 7.0 percent by weight of hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight, based upon total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
4 more elements
A coated optical fiber comprising
- a glass fiber, and
- a continuous coating surrounding said fiber and formed of a cured oligomeric material having an Instron modulus of at least about 40,000 psi and a glass transition temperature of at least 50.degree. C., wherein said oligomeric material before cure comprised
- an aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer based on a polyester;
- an acrylated or methacrylated compound;
- and
- a photoinitiator,
- wherein said oligomer material contained substantially no epoxy acrylate oligomer.
4 more elements
A coated optical fiber comprising
- a glass fiber, and
- at least two coatings applied to and surrounding said fiber, including
- a primary coating having a Tg of -20.degree. C. or lower yet high enough so that its Instron modulus increases as temperature is lowered, and an Instron modulus of less than about 500 psi such that it forms a soft, rubbery material, and
- a secondary coating having a Tg of at least 50.degree. C. and an Instron modulus of at least about 40,000 psi such that it forms a hard, tough protective outer layer for the primary coated fiber,
- said secondary coating containing substantially no epoxy acrylate oligomer.
2 more elements
A process for preparing a radiation-curable primary coating for an optical fiber comprising formulating a composition comprising
- (A) from about 20 percent to about 80 percent by weight of an acrylated urethane oligomer which is the reaction product of (i) a hydrocarbon polyol, the hydrocarbon portion of which is from 600 to 4,000 molecular weight;
- (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate;
- and (iii) an endcapping monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylacrylate and hydroxyalkylmethacrylate;
- (B) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer having between 6 and 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
- (C) from about 5 percent to about 60 percent by weight of a monomer or oligomer having (1) an aromatic moiety, (2) a moiety containing acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, and (3) a hydrocarbon moiety, which monomer or oligomer is capable of increasing the refractive index of the composition relative to that of a composition containing only (A), (B), (D) and (E);
- (D) from about 0.1 percent to about 3.0 percent by weight of an organofunctional silane adhesion promoter;
- and
- (E) from about 1.0 percent to about 10 percent by weight of a photoinitiator,
- wherein all of the stated percentages are percentages by weight based on total weight of (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.