Optical fiber ribbon with improved stripability
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsChing-Kee Chien, Michelle Dawn Fabian, Edward John Fewkes, Michael James Winningham
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Abstract
An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers encapsulated within a matrix material, where the optical fiber coating(s) and the matrix material(s), and optionally any ink layers thereon, are characterized by compatible chemical and/or physical properties, whereby the fiber coating and matrix and any ink layers therebetween can be reliably stripped from the optical fibers to afford a suitable strip cleanliness. Novel ink formulations that can be used in the making of such fiber optic ribbons, methods of making such ribbons, and their use are also described.
Claims14
An ink formulation comprising a pigment binder phase comprising one or more oligomer and/or monomer components having an acrylate functional group, a polar non-acrylate monomer component, a pigment or dye, an optical brightener, and a phosphine oxide photoinitiator, wherein the ink formulation is characterized by a cure speed of at least about 80 percent acrylate conversion/second for the colors blue, green, yellow, black and brown;
- about 110 percent acrylate conversion/second for the color red;
- about 130 percent acrylate conversion/second for the colors orange and aqua;
- about 140 percent acrylate conversion/second for the colors white, violet and rose;
- and about 150 percent acrylate conversion/second for the color slate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.