Optical fiber apparatus
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsLee L. Blyler, Jr., Darryl L. Brownlow, Daryl Inniss, James R. Petisce, Lloyd Shepherd, Carl R. Taylor
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Abstract
Optical fiber and cable performance are assured by a category of UV-cured polyurethane acrylates. Low cost is the consequence of use of the polycarbonate oligomer. Good performance and long life are ascribed to other ingredients of the coatings. Dependence on the hindered phenols for antioxidant protection assures sufficient protection for these inherently stable materials without incurring fiber damage found to result from use of hindered amine antioxidants.
Claims12
Apparatus comprising a high silica glass body as a part of an optical fiber transmission path, the apparatus including at least one protective region for the body, in which the protective region consists primarily of a cured urethane acrylate-containing composition, yielded by UV-curing a mixture of a urethane acrylate oligomer together with additives including:
- at least one first additive which co-polymerizes with the oligomer;
- at least one second additive serving as polymerization initiator;
- and at least one third additive serving as thermal antioxidant;
- and in which the protective region is in direct or indirect contact with the body in which direct or indirect contact is defined as sufficient to permit water to diffuse through the protective region to the body,
- characterized in that the UV-curing oligomer is a carbonate urethane acrylate, in that every third additive is a hindered phenol, in that total amine content of the composition is a maximum of 0.03 wt. %, and further in that total amine content of any material in direct or indirect intimate contact with the composition is a maximum of 0.03 wt. %.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.