GB2145841A - Coated optical fiber - Google Patents
Coated optical fiber Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2145841A GB2145841A GB08421811A GB8421811A GB2145841A GB 2145841 A GB2145841 A GB 2145841A GB 08421811 A GB08421811 A GB 08421811A GB 8421811 A GB8421811 A GB 8421811A GB 2145841 A GB2145841 A GB 2145841A
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- Prior art keywords
- elastomer
- fiber
- cable
- psi
- cable according
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- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 67
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 66
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 66
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- KCTAWXVAICEBSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N prop-2-enoyloxy prop-2-eneperoxoate Chemical compound C=CC(=O)OOOC(=O)C=C KCTAWXVAICEBSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- UHESRSKEBRADOO-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethyl carbamate;prop-2-enoic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)C=C.CCOC(N)=O UHESRSKEBRADOO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 claims 1
- -1 poly(tetramethyleneoxy terephthalate) copolymer Polymers 0.000 abstract description 8
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 7
- 239000008393 encapsulating agent Substances 0.000 abstract description 7
- 229920006132 styrene block copolymer Polymers 0.000 abstract description 7
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 abstract description 6
- WXCZUWHSJWOTRV-UHFFFAOYSA-N but-1-ene;ethene Chemical compound C=C.CCC=C WXCZUWHSJWOTRV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- MTAZNLWOLGHBHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N butadiene-styrene rubber Chemical compound C=CC=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 MTAZNLWOLGHBHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229920001707 polybutylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 abstract description 2
- YMWUJEATGCHHMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dichloromethane Chemical compound ClCCl YMWUJEATGCHHMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 21
- 229920002633 Kraton (polymer) Polymers 0.000 description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 229920011453 Hytrel® 4056 Polymers 0.000 description 8
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- XDTMQSROBMDMFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Cyclohexane Chemical compound C1CCCCC1 XDTMQSROBMDMFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 6
- 229920001935 styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000005538 encapsulation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005041 Mylar™ Substances 0.000 description 2
- DTQVDTLACAAQTR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Trifluoroacetic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)C(F)(F)F DTQVDTLACAAQTR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000376 reactant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- QVXZSAWOXGFNIK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropan-2-ol Chemical compound FC(F)(F)C(F)(O)C(F)(F)F QVXZSAWOXGFNIK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920010930 Hytrel® 5556 Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001252 acrylic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012668 chain scission Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007607 die coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000113 differential scanning calorimetry Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007765 extrusion coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- CPBQJMYROZQQJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium neon Chemical compound [He].[Ne] CPBQJMYROZQQJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001044 red dye Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010257 thawing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002725 thermoplastic elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005809 transesterification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4402—Optical cables with one single optical waveguide
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/00663—Production of light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
- G02B6/4401—Optical cables
- G02B6/4429—Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
- G02B6/443—Protective covering
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
- Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)
- Organic Insulating Materials (AREA)
Abstract
It has been found that cables with encapsulated optical fibers 20 incur unexpected losses in an optical communication system. These losses are substantially reduced by employing an elastomeric encapsulant 10 that has an average elastic modulus of greater than 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi) and that is capable of being removed without substantially affecting the fiber. The elastomer may be a poly- (butylene terephthalate) co-poly(tetramethyleneoxy terephthalate) copolymer, a styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymer or a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene block copolymer or a polyurethane polymer. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Optical fiber cable
This invention relates to a cable containing at least one optical fiber.
Optical fiber, as used in optical communication systems, is generally incorporated into a multifiber cable. Numerous multifiber cable configurations have been developed and each has been specifically designed to satisfy the requirements imposed by a particular application.
Recent requirements have led to the encapsulation of the fibers within the cable, i.e., the fibers are enclosed by an elastomeric material. The encapsulation of the fibers is particularly advantageous in uses where the cable contacts liquids such as water. For example, undersea cables that include a self-supporting, load bearing wire cage, e.g., a steel wire cage, surrounding coated fibers that are encapsulated in an elastomer and an outer sheath, e.g., a nylon sheath, employ this encapsulated design. (See U.S. Patent 4,156,104 issued May 22, 1979.
If encapsulation is not utilized and the cable is ruptured, e.g., by fishing trawlers, or during recovery operations, water could enter the cable along the coated fibers and follow these fibers to electronic equipment, e.g., repeaters, spaced periodically along the transmission line. Water entering electronic equipment results in serious damage necessitating costly repairs and replacement. Additionally, the introduction of water into the cable increases the possibility of excess transmission losses. Thus, encapsulation to prevent water encroachment is certainly desirable.
The desire to exclude the presence of water is also strong for terrestrial applications. For example, in most environments, buried cables will encounter substantial water contact. Water reaching the fiber upon freezing and thawing can cause significant bending stresses that, in turn, induce fiber damage or unacceptable transmission losses.
A wide variety of encapsulants have been contemplated for encapsulated or filled cables. The use of liquid or gelled encapsulants such as an oil-extended styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene block copolymer has been suggested. (See, for example, The Proceedings of the Thirty-First
Wire and Cable Symposium, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), Fort
Monmouth, New Jersey, 1982, pp. 396-400). In contrast, the use of substantially elastomeric materials to additionally limit microbending losses has also been suggested in U.S. Patent 4,156,104 issued May 22, 1979 where it is indicated that HYTREL polyester elastomers are employable. (Several HYTREL polymers are available from E.l. duPont de Nemours s Company).
Although present cables show advantageous properties, it is certainly desirable to improve the transmission losses encountered through improvement to these structures.
According to the present invention there is provided a cable containing at least one coated optical fiber that experiences a compressive stress upon inducing a curvature in said cable, and an elastomeric composition that contacts and surrounds said fiber, wherein said elastomer composition has an average elastic modulus greater than 2,068,426 Pa (300 psi) and said elastomer is capable of being removed without substantially affecting said coating of said fiber.
Two previously undisclosed effects have been found to significantly affect fiber performance in encapsulated cables. The first effect relates to the elasticity of the encapsulating material. In particular, if an encapsulant having an elastic modulus of less than 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi) is employed, significant kinking of the encapsulated fiber during cable bending occurs. Secondly, it is quite important to be able to remove expeditiously the elastomer from the fiber, e.g. coated fiber, without substantially affecting the fiber, and in particular, the fiber coating. Removal of the encapsulant by, for example, the use of a solvent or by melting is required to allow splicing of fibers at cable joints or for producing other transmission connections. It has been found that if the encapsulant is not easily removed, substantial degradation of the fiber properties occurs.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is illustrative of samples suitable for demonstrating the invention; and
Figure 2 is illustrative of properties relating to embodiments of the invention.
The cables of the embodiments of the invention are all of the encapsulated fiber type. That is, the cable includes a single or a plurality of fibers at least one of which 1) is contacted and surrounded by an elastomeric material a material having a modulus of less than 344,737,850
Pa (50,000 psi) and which behaves in a substantially elastic manner in that an applied deformation is essentially or substantially fully recoverable upon the release of stress (as described in F.W. Billmeyer, Jr. Textbook of Polymer Science, 2d ed., Wiley-lntersciences, New
York, 1971, page 1 91) when subjected to stress-and 2) does not, through its entire length, lie along the neutral axis of the cable for a distance greater than 10 meters. (See S. Timoshenko and G.H. MacCullough, Elements of Strength of Materials, D.VanNostrand Co., Princeton, New
Jersey, 1 949, for the definition of neutral axis, i.e. the axis along which compressive and tensile strains are equal to zero when the cable is bent). These cables are constructed in a variety of ways. For example, a central core including a strength member, i.e. a steel wire, is surrounded by a layer of an elastomer utilizing conventional techniques. (Structural members are desirable but not critical. However, these members are advantageously employed for applications in which the fibers are continuously encapsulated by melt extrusion or die coating). Fibers are positioned around this member and are encapsulated also by conventional techniques such as melt extrusion. An outer sheath is then provided by well-known methods such as melt extrusion.
Significantly, the applicant has realized that the elastomeric material should have certain properties to achieve the best transmission and mechanical properties for the cable as installed in a communication system. In particular, the elastomer should have an elastic modulus (as defined in S. Timoshenko and G.H. MacCullough, Elements of Strength of Materials, D.
Van Nostrand Co., Princeton, New Jersey, 1949) of at least 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi), preferably at least 3,447,379 Pa (500 psi). It has been found that the use of an elastomer with a lower modulus results in buckling of the fiber upon introduction of compressive stress induced by the bending of the cable body. A variety of compounds that satisfy this minimum modulus criterion are available.For example, HYTREL 4056, KRATON D3204, KRATON G7720 and ESTANE 58881 that are elastomers composed, respectively, of a poly(butylene terephthalate)co-poly(tet- ramethyleneoxy terephthalate copolymer, a styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymer, a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene block copolymer and a segmented polyurethane polymer having elastic moduli, respectively, of 51,530,687, 16,547,417, 6,405,281 and 20,194,795
Pa (7500, 2400, 900 and 2900 psi) are appropriate. The encapsulant elastomer need not include only a single elastomer. Blends of elastomers are also satisfactory as is the use of different elastomers in different portions of the cable. In the case of blends, the blend should have a modulus greater than 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi).Where different regions have different elastomers, i.e. where a composite elastomer structure is employed, the minimum modulus of any elastomer contacting and supporting the fibers over a length greater than 10 meters should be at least 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi).
The elastomer should have properties that allows its expeditious removal from the fiber (including the fiber coating, if present). As previously discussed, the elastomer is primarily removed from the coated fibers where cable joining or where termination of fiber transmission path is to be accomplished. (In the present context, the fiber coating is the layer or layers of material(s) applied individually to fiber at the time of manufacture and which protect the fiber from abrasion, hostile environments and/or excessive transmission losses due to applied stresses.) Two expeditious techniques are generally available to perform the desired elastomer removal. In a first technique a solvent is utilized which dissolves the elastomer.A second method of removing the elastomer is by melting. (For thermosetting elastomers mechanical removal, such as by mechanical stripping, is also possible.) To avoid fiber property degradation resulting from damage to its coating upon elastomer removal by one of these techniques, the elastomer should be either soluble in non-reactive solvents, i.e., sufficiently weak reactants so that the coating does not undergo extensive chain scission through processes such as oxidation or transesterification, or should melt at relatively low temperatures, i.e., temperatures below 1 90 degrees C. For typically crystalline elastomeric compositions, e.g., polyester elastomers, the greater the crystallinity the higher the melting point and the lower the solubility in non-reactive solvents. One measure of crystallinity for such materials is the elastic modulus.It has been found that crystalline elastomers such as HYTREL elastomers having a modulus less than 68,947,570 Pa (10,000 psi) correspond to a degree of crystallinity that produces elastomer removal without adversely affecting the fiber coating and thus avoids concomitant adverse effects. In thermoplastic elastomers having a glassy rather than crystalline phase, the elastic modulus does not correlate with softening temperatures or solvent effect.However, the criterion that the elastomer melt at a relatively low temperature or be soluble in a material that is not a strong reactant is still the controlling factor. (In one embodiment of removal of thermosetting materials, e.g., silicones, the elastometer utilized should fail, i.e., tear or rupture, at stress levels well below those which would cause the fiber or its coating to be damaged.)
In a typical example where a UV-cured epoxy-acrylate or a UV-cured poly(urethane acrylate) is employed as a fiber coating and where HYTREL 4056 is employed as an elastomer, the elastomeric material is removed through the utilization of methylene chloride solvent or by heating the elastomer to a temperature of 1 75 degrees C. Polymer melting points are easily determined by differential scanning calorimetry. If the fiber is coated, an elastomer should be employed that has a softening temperature at least 20 degrees C lower than the temperature at which significant degradation of the fiber's polymer coating occurs on a time scale equivalent to the elastomer removal process. Exemplary of suitable elastomers are HYTREL 4056, KRATON
D3204, KRATON G7720 and ESTANE 58881.
The following examples are illustrative of the subject invention.
Example 1
As an indication of the buckling phenomenon present in encapsulated cables, samples including a fiber, an elastomer and a high modulus substrate were fabricated and stressed to simulate the conditions experienced in a cable. These samples were produced by molding in a heated platen press. The platens were heated to a temperature of approximately 1 65 degrees C.
A picture frame mold having a thickness of approximately 0.041 cm and an opening of approximately 1 5.2 by 7.6 cm was utilized. Samples for each elastomer listed in Table I were prepared. Pellets of the chosen elastomer were placed in the picture frame mold which, in turn, was positioned on the platens of the molding machine. The molding was accomplished utilizing a pressure of approximately 480,833 Pa (70 psi) to form an elastomer plaque having the dimensions of the picture frame. In this manner, several plaques of each elastomer were produced.
A picture frame mold, 0.082 cm in thickness, having the same opening size as used in the previous step was employed to mold the elastomer around a fiber. The picture frame mold was placed onto the platen, a plaque was placed in the opening, a coated fiber measuring 260 Lm in diameter was placed in the plaque, and a second elastomer plaque of the same dimension was placed over the fiber. (The fiber had a UV-cured epoxy acrylate coating 68 ym in thickness that contained a red dye incorporated to enhance observation during subsequent tests). The entire package was compression molded at a pressure of approximately 480,833 Pa (70 psi) to form an encapsulated fiber. (The fiber ends during this molding process were led out of the molding frame through grooves and thus extended from the encapsulated package).
The encapsulated packet still in the picture frame mold was placed onto a 0,0254 cm (10 mil) thick MYLAR poly(ethylene-terephthalate) film that was, in turn, placed on the platen. The molding process was repeated.with a pressure of 480,833 Pa (70 psi) to produce a layered structure shown in the Figure with the MYLAR, 25, molded to the encapsulated fiber package including the fiber, 20, and the elastomer, 10.
A series of stainless steel forms were utilized that had different radii of curvature ranging from 7.5 cm to 70 cm in steps of approximately 10 cm. Each sample was placed on a form and by applying a force induced to conform to the form in a configuration that produced compression on the fiber. The fiber was then visually observed and the configuration-curvilinear or sinusoidal---of the fiber was observed. The compressive strain induced in this manner was calculated from the employed radius of curvature using the formula found in S. Timoshenko and
G.H. MacCullough, Elements of Strength of Materials, D.VanNostrand Co., Princeton, New
Jersey, 1949, page 1 20. (The neutral plane of bending in the sandwich does not occur through the fiber since the sandwich is asymmetrical, i.e. it has the poly(ethylene-terephthalate) substrate only on one side. However, the neutral plane, 5, does remain very near the midpoint of the substrate thickness since its modulus is more than 10 times larger than that of the elastomer).
The test was performed for each sample on each stainless steel form. A graph indicating the modulus of each elastomer and the point at which sinusoidal behavior was observed is shown in
Fig. 2 and in Table I.
Example 2
The core of the cable described in U.S. Patent 4,156,104 issued May 22, 1 979 was fabricated in accordance with the description of that patent. The core included a steel central member, an elastomer, and a plurality of fibers arranged as shown in Fig. 2 of that patent where the fibers followed a helical longitudinal path through the core. This core was then wrapped around a reel that had a diameter of approximately 1 83 cm (6 feet). Light from a helium-neon laser (wavelength of 6328 A) was injected into one multimode fiber of the core.
The portion of the injected light that was scattered from the fiber rendered the fiber clearly visible through the length of core. Two different elastomers were observed using this procedure--HYTREL 4056 having a modulus of 51,530,678 Pa (7500 psi) and KRATON
G2706 having a modulus of 836,318 Pa (130 psi). The former exhibited no distortion from its helical path while the use of the later elastomer produced a fiber which was distorted from its path on the side of the core that was in compression.
Example 3
Three cores as described in Example 2 were produced. Each core utilized one elastomer listed in Table II. This core was then immersed in the corresponding solvent listed in Table II. The core was maintained in the solvent until the elastomer dissolved. The remaining portion of the core was extracted from the solvent. In the methylene chloride case the fiber coating initially swelled but upon evaporation of the solvent returned to its original condition.
For HYTREL 4056 (modulus of 51,530,678 Pa (7500 psi)] the elastomer coating was also removed by directing a stream of hot air at a temperature of approximately 1 70 degrees C over the portion of the elastomer that was to be removed. After approximately 10 seconds, a die having an opening equivalent to the diameter of the fiber (including the coating) was slipped along each fiber to remove the molten elastomer. The resulting freed fiber had a coating that remained substantially unaffected by the procedure.
It should be noted that materials such as HYTREL 5556, 6346 and 7246 (modulus of 206,842,710, 344,737,850 and 515,306,775 Pa (30,000, 50,000 and 75,000 psi), respectively] when immersed in solvents such as those listed in Table I are not dissolved. To dissolve such elastomers solvents such as trifluoroacetic acid and perfluoroisopropanol are required.These solvents, or solvents having equivalent dissoluton strengths, also degrade the properties of fibers coated with materials such as epoxy acrylates and urethane acrylates. TABLE I
Propreties of Elastomers Used in Embedded Core Optical Cables
Tensile Critical
Modulus Compressive at 1% Strain Strain for
Elastomer Type Pa Buckling (%) Solvent
KRATON G2706 SEBS 965,266 (140psi) 0.13 cyclohexane 50% KRATON G270650% KRATON G2705 SEBS 2,019,480 (290psi)0.36 cyclohexane
KRATON G2705 SEBS 4,946,225 (720psi) 0.53 cyclohexane
KRATON G7720 SEBS 6,612,124 (930psi) 0.71 cyclohexane
ESTANE 58881 SPU 11,031,611 (1600psi) 1.20 methylene chloride
KRATON D3204 SBS 16,547,417 (2400psi) 0.59 cyclohexane
ESTANE 58887 SPU 20,164,975 (2900psi) 1.8 methylene chloride
ESTANE 58810 SPU 20,684,271 (3000psi) 1.8 methylene chloride
HYTREL 4056 PE 51,530,678 (7500psi) > 2.1 methylene chloride
SEBS - styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene block copolymer
SPU - segmented polyurethane
SBS - styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymer
PE - poly(butylene terephtalate) - co-poly(tetramethyleneoxy) terephtalate TABLE II Elastomers Used In Cable Core Fabrication
Elastomer Solvent
HYTREL 4056 methylene chloride
KRATON D3204 cyclohexane
HYTREL 4056/KRATON D3204 composite cyclohexane
Claims (11)
1. A cable containing at least one coated optical fiber that experiences a compressive stress upon inducing a curvature in said cable, and an elastomeric composition that contacts and surrounds said fiber, wherein said elastomer composition has an average elastic modulus greater than 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi) and said elastomer is capable of being removed without substantially affecting said coating of said fiber.
2. The cable according to claim 1, wherein said elastomer satisfies at least one removal criterion and wherein said removal criteria are that said elastomer is dissolvable in a non-reactive solvent, and said elastomer melts at a temperature below 1 90 degrees C.
3. The cable according to claim 1, wherein said elastic modulus is 3,447,379 Pa. (500 psi) or more.
4. The cable according to claim 1, wherein said coating comprises a UV-curved epoxy acrylate or a urethane acrylate.
5. The cable according to claim 1, comprising including a sheathing surrounding said elastomer.
6. The cable according to claim 5 wherein said sheathing comprises a nylon.
7. The cable according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of optical fibers.
8. The cable according to claim 1, wherein said elastomer is capable of being removed with a solvent.
9. The cable according to claim 1, wherein said elastomer is capable of being removed by melting.
10. A cable containing at least one optical fiber, according to claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.
11. A cable containing at least one optical fiber, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
1 2. A coated optical fiber for use in a cable, said fiber having an elastomeric composition that contacts and surrounds the fiber, said elastomeric composition having an average elastic modulus greater than 2,068,427 Pa (300 psi) and being capable of being removed without substantially affecting the coating of the fiber.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US52852983A | 1983-09-01 | 1983-09-01 |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8421811D0 GB8421811D0 (en) | 1984-10-03 |
| GB2145841A true GB2145841A (en) | 1985-04-03 |
| GB2145841B GB2145841B (en) | 1987-04-01 |
Family
ID=24106061
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08421811A Expired GB2145841B (en) | 1983-09-01 | 1984-08-29 | Coated optical fiber |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6076708A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2145841B (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0219702A2 (en) * | 1985-09-21 | 1987-04-29 | Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited | Plastic optical cable |
| US4915473A (en) * | 1989-02-23 | 1990-04-10 | The Dow Chemical Company | Pressure sensor utilizing a polyurethane optical fiber |
| EP0398564A2 (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-11-22 | AT&T Corp. | Coated optical transmission media |
| US5104433A (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1992-04-14 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Method of making optical fiber |
| GB2266161A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1993-10-20 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Optic waveguides with elastomer cladding |
| EP0816888A1 (en) * | 1996-06-24 | 1998-01-07 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Buffered optical fiber having a strippable buffer layer |
| GB2400921A (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2004-10-27 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
| GB2409908A (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2005-07-13 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1524316A (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1978-09-13 | Gen Electric Co Ltd | Optical fibre waveguides |
| GB2003056A (en) * | 1977-08-17 | 1979-03-07 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Optical fibre coated with modified polybutadiene |
| GB2046625A (en) * | 1979-01-23 | 1980-11-19 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Glass fibres for optical transmission |
| EP0021271A2 (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1981-01-07 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Process for making a tension resistant lightguide |
| GB2060929A (en) * | 1979-08-24 | 1981-05-07 | Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co Ltd | An optical fibre unit for an optical cable |
| GB2065324A (en) * | 1979-12-05 | 1981-06-24 | Ass Elect Ind | Optical fibres |
| GB1601086A (en) * | 1977-05-27 | 1981-10-21 | Siemens Ag | Communications cables comprising glass optic fibres |
| GB2096353A (en) * | 1981-04-02 | 1982-10-13 | Pirelli Cavi Spa | Optical fibre bearing at least three plastomeric or elastomeric layers |
| GB2109949A (en) * | 1981-10-27 | 1983-06-08 | Western Electric Co | Styrene-rubber-styrene copolymer coated optical fiber |
| US4427263A (en) * | 1981-04-23 | 1984-01-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Pressure insensitive optical fiber |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS52143844A (en) * | 1976-05-26 | 1977-11-30 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Glass fibres for photo communication |
-
1984
- 1984-08-29 GB GB08421811A patent/GB2145841B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-08-31 JP JP59180872A patent/JPS6076708A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1601086A (en) * | 1977-05-27 | 1981-10-21 | Siemens Ag | Communications cables comprising glass optic fibres |
| GB1524316A (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1978-09-13 | Gen Electric Co Ltd | Optical fibre waveguides |
| GB2003056A (en) * | 1977-08-17 | 1979-03-07 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Optical fibre coated with modified polybutadiene |
| GB2046625A (en) * | 1979-01-23 | 1980-11-19 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Glass fibres for optical transmission |
| EP0021271A2 (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1981-01-07 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Process for making a tension resistant lightguide |
| GB2060929A (en) * | 1979-08-24 | 1981-05-07 | Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co Ltd | An optical fibre unit for an optical cable |
| GB2065324A (en) * | 1979-12-05 | 1981-06-24 | Ass Elect Ind | Optical fibres |
| GB2096353A (en) * | 1981-04-02 | 1982-10-13 | Pirelli Cavi Spa | Optical fibre bearing at least three plastomeric or elastomeric layers |
| US4427263A (en) * | 1981-04-23 | 1984-01-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Pressure insensitive optical fiber |
| GB2109949A (en) * | 1981-10-27 | 1983-06-08 | Western Electric Co | Styrene-rubber-styrene copolymer coated optical fiber |
Cited By (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0219702A2 (en) * | 1985-09-21 | 1987-04-29 | Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited | Plastic optical cable |
| EP0219702A3 (en) * | 1985-09-21 | 1989-01-18 | Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited | Plastic optical cable |
| US4915473A (en) * | 1989-02-23 | 1990-04-10 | The Dow Chemical Company | Pressure sensor utilizing a polyurethane optical fiber |
| EP0398564A2 (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1990-11-22 | AT&T Corp. | Coated optical transmission media |
| EP0398564A3 (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1991-07-17 | AT&T Corp. | Coated optical transmission media |
| US5104433A (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1992-04-14 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Method of making optical fiber |
| GB2266161A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1993-10-20 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Optic waveguides with elastomer cladding |
| US5367597A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1994-11-22 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | Optical waveguide encapsulation |
| GB2266161B (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1995-10-18 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | An optical waveguide encapsulation |
| EP0816888A1 (en) * | 1996-06-24 | 1998-01-07 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Buffered optical fiber having a strippable buffer layer |
| GB2400921A (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2004-10-27 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
| GB2409908A (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2005-07-13 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
| GB2400921B (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2005-10-12 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
| GB2409908B (en) * | 2002-08-10 | 2005-11-30 | Emtelle Uk Ltd | Signal transmitting cable |
| US7136556B2 (en) | 2002-08-10 | 2006-11-14 | Emtelle Uk Limited | Signal transmitting cable |
| USRE41388E1 (en) | 2002-08-10 | 2010-06-22 | Emtelle Uk Limited | Signal transmitting cable |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0579966B2 (en) | 1993-11-05 |
| GB2145841B (en) | 1987-04-01 |
| GB8421811D0 (en) | 1984-10-03 |
| JPS6076708A (en) | 1985-05-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Effective date: 20040828 |