Temperature range adjusted coated optical fibers
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsThomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
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Abstract
A coated optical fiber adjusted to operate at a predetermined temperature range. The coated fiber includes an optical fiber, a first polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the optical fiber and a second polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the first polymer coating, wherein the first polymer coating includes substantially no coefficient of thermal expansion stresses when the optical fiber is placed at a lower end of the temperature range.
Claims16
A temperature range adjusted coated optical fiber comprising:
- a) an optical fiber having an outer surface coated with a first polymer coating;
- b) a first interface between the optical fiber surface and the first polymer coating;
- c) a cured photopolymerizable second polymer coating in direct contact with and disposed concentrically about the first polymer coating;
- and
- d) a second interface between the first polymer coating and the second polymer coating;
- e) wherein, no delaminations at the first or second interfaces and no fractures within the first or second polymer coatings are observed by microscopic examination when an approximately two-meter long piece of the temperature range adjusted coated optical fiber, having two free ends,
- i) is wrapped under low tension on a 2.5 inch (6.4 cm) diameter aluminum tube having a wall thickness of 0.25 inches (0.64 cm), then
- ii) mounted with the tube horizontal and the free ends of the fiber are affixed to free-hanging 25 gram weights in a temperature-controlled chamber,
- iii) the chamber and tube being cycled approximately between −55° C. and 70°C. for a total of 30 cycles.
A temperature range adjusted, coated optical fiber comprising:
- a) an optical fiber;
- b) a first polymer coating comprising an aczylate-functional silicone composition generally concentrically surrounding the optical fiber;
- and
- c) a second polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the first polymer coating;
- d) wherein the first polymer coating includes substantially no coefficient of thermal expansion stresses when the optical fiber is placed at a lower end of the temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.