Optical fiber including acidic coating system
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorJames R. Petisce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coated optical fiber (30) includes optical glass fiber which has been drawn from a preform and provided with one or more layers of coating materials having defined properties. The layer (32) of coating material which is contiguous to the drawn glass fiber may be one which in a preferred embodiment is cationically cured coating material. Curing of the cationically cured coating material causes an acid to be generated. The acid which has a relatively long life is effective to reduce sufficientlythe pH of the environment in contact with the drawn glass to cause the coated optical fiber to have enhanced mechanical strength.
Claims16
A coated optical fiber having enhanced strength, said coated optical fiber comprising:
- an optical glass portion which includes a core and a cladding;
- and
- a coating system which is disposed about and which has a portion thereof in engagement with said cladding, the coating system including at least one layer which comprises a material which causes the optical glass portion to be contacted by an environment which is sufficiently acidic to enhance the strength of the coated optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.