Method for enhancing the pullout strength of polymer-coated optical fiber
US5473720A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/02395
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Applicants have discovered that low pullout strength of optical fiber is attributable to volatile, unreacted monomers and impurities which result from the incomplete polymerization of liquid coating materials. They have further discovered that removing these unreacted liquids as by heating in air, heating in vacuum or by application of a solvent mixture improves fiber coating adhesion. By heating cured polymer-coated fiber in air at temperatures of 100.degree. C. or more, the fiber pullout strength is enhanced by 25% or more. This postcure heating can advantageously be clone off-line by placing loosely wound fiber in a heated oven. Alternatively, the postcure heating can be done on-line by reel-to-reel passage of the fiber through a heated furnace. Preferred temperatures are in the range 100.degree. C.-300.degree. C. Even greater enhancement of pullout strength can be effected by heating in vacuum or by solvent extraction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.