WO2000018697A1 - Procede de fabrication de fibres optiques revetues - Google Patents

Procede de fabrication de fibres optiques revetues Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000018697A1
WO2000018697A1 PCT/US1999/002051 US9902051W WO0018697A1 WO 2000018697 A1 WO2000018697 A1 WO 2000018697A1 US 9902051 W US9902051 W US 9902051W WO 0018697 A1 WO0018697 A1 WO 0018697A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
polymer coating
fiber
photopolymerizable composition
coating
tensile stresses
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/002051
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas Martin Lynch
Brian Kenneth Nelson
James Craig Novack
James Robert Onstott
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company filed Critical Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority to AU24872/99A priority Critical patent/AU2487299A/en
Publication of WO2000018697A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000018697A1/fr

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • C03C25/12—General methods of coating; Devices therefor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • C03C25/104—Coating to obtain optical fibres
    • C03C25/1065—Multiple coatings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to manufacturing coated optical fibers.
  • Optical fibers typically are silica-based. To improve the moisture resistance and mechanical properties of the fiber, the fiber is often provided with multiple polymeric coatings disposed concentrically about the fiber, with the coating nearest the fiber being more flexible than the outermost coating (s).
  • a photopolymerizable composition typically is applied to the fiber and polymerized by exposure to actinic radiation, e.g., ultraviolet radiation, to form a first polymer coating.
  • actinic radiation e.g., ultraviolet radiation
  • a second photopolymerizable composition is applied to the first polymer coating and likewise exposed to actinic radiation to form a second polymer coating.
  • the invention features a method for coating an optical fiber that includes: (a) applying a photopolymerizable composition to an optical fiber having a surface coated with a first polymer coating; and (b) exposing the photopolymerizable composition to a source of actinic radiation to form a second polymer coating under conditions which inhibit the production of thermally induced tensile stresses in the first polymer coating.
  • the fiber is cooled prior to application of the photopolymerizable composition. Preferably, this is accomplished by exposing the fiber to a chilled stream of gas (e.g., an inert gas such as helium) .
  • the fiber may be cooled with a chilled stream of gas such as helium during exposure.
  • Another protocol involves providing the source of actinic radiation with a dichroic reflector that transmits infrared radiation generated by the radiation source away from the fiber.
  • Yet another useful protocol includes placing a water-cooled jacket concentrically about the fiber. The surface of the jacket may be further provided with an infrared radiation-absorbing coating.
  • a tube e.g., a quartz tube having a surface coated with an infrared radiation-absorbing coating is disposed concentrically about the fiber.
  • the actinic radiation preferably is ultraviolet radiation.
  • the first polymer coating preferably includes an acrylate-functional silicone polymer, while the photopolymerizable composition preferably includes a photopolymerizable acrylate-functional epoxy or acrylate-functional urethane composition.
  • the invention features a method for coating an optical fiber featuring a surface coated with a first polymer coating where the fiber is essentially free of a hermetic carbon coating underlying the first polymer coating.
  • the method includes (a) cooling the fiber (e.g., by exposing the fiber to a chilled stream of gas such as helium gas) ; (b) applying a photopolymerizable composition to the first polymer coating; and (c) exposing the photopolymerizable composition to a source of actinic radiation to form a second polymer coating.
  • the method further includes inhibiting the production of thermally induced tensile stresses during exposure according to the procedures described above.
  • the invention provides optical fibers having multiple polymer coatings in which the production of tensile stresses within an individual polymer coating is minimized.
  • the fibers exhibit good moisture resistance and mechanical properties, and resist delamination. The ability to minimize tensile stresses, and thus the defects associated with such stresses, makes the fibers particularly useful in defect-sensitive applications such as interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for manufacturing coated optical fibers according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2a is an expanded schematic drawing of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the equipment used to polymerize the second photopolymerizable composition.
  • Fig. 2b is a top view of the equipment depicted in Fig. 2a.
  • an apparatus 10 for manufacturing a coated optical fiber having a plurality of polymer coatings disposed concentrically about the fiber core As shown in Fig. 1, an optical fiber 12 provided with a first photopolymerizable coating disposed concentrically about the fiber core is exposed to actinic radiation (e.g., ultraviolet or visible radiation) from a lamp 14 to polymerize the coating.
  • actinic radiation e.g., ultraviolet or visible radiation
  • suitable materials for the first coating include relatively flexible polymers such as acrylate-functional silicone polymers.
  • the particular type of actinic radiation and the exposure conditions are selected based upon the particular photopolymerizable coating employed.
  • the coated optical fiber may be cooled at a cooling station 16 by exposing the coated fiber to a chilled stream of gas.
  • the gas is inert with respect to the coated fiber.
  • gases can be used, including helium, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof. Because helium has a high thermal conductivity, it is particularly effective for cooling the coated fiber.
  • the gas may be cooled, e.g., by running it through a coil of copper tubing submerged in a dry ice/propanol bath. Cooling the coated fiber prior to application of the second photopolymerizable coating is advantageous because it shrinks the dimensions of the coated fiber, thereby minimizing the production of tensile stresses following coating and polymerization of the second photopolymerizable coating.
  • the cooled, coated fiber enters a coating station 18 where it is coated with a second photopolymerizable composition using conventional techniques such as die coating.
  • the second photopolymerizable composition is designed to produce a second polymer coating concentrically disposed about the first polymer coating.
  • the second polymer coating preferably is more rigid than the first polymer coating to provide mechanical reinforcement.
  • Typical photopolymerizable compositions for preparing the second polymer coating include photopolymerizable acrylate or methacrylate-based compositions such as photopolymerizable acrylate-functional epoxy or urethane resins. Upon exposure to actinic radiation such as ultraviolet or visible radiation, the acrylate groups polymerize to form an acrylate polymer.
  • enclosure 24 housing an actinic radiation source 20 and a water-jacketed quartz tube 22 designed to cool the fiber during actinic radiation exposure.
  • enclosure 24 includes, as the actinic radiation source, an electrodeless ultraviolet lamp 20.
  • the fiber is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from lamp 20 as it moves through water-jacketed quartz tube 22. The particular exposure conditions are selected based upon the photopolymerizable composition.
  • the second photopolymerizable composition coated on the fiber polymerizes to form a second polymer coating.
  • the outer surface of tube 22 may be further provided with an infrared-absorbing, ultraviolet-transmitting coating.
  • the fiber is further cooled during exposure by means of chilled helium gas supplied via a port 26.
  • the helium may be cooled prior to contact with the fiber, e.g., by running it through a coil of copper tubing submerged in a dry ice/propanol bath.
  • a dichroic reflector 28 located within enclosure 24 and positioned around lamp 20 and tube 22 further assists inhibiting the formation of thermally induced tensile stresses in the first polymer coating during polymerization to form the second polymer coating.
  • Reflector 28 reflects ultraviolet radiation generated in lamp 20 toward tube 22 but transmits infrared radiation away from tube 22, thereby reducing the amount of infrared radiation reaching the fiber.
  • a freshly drawn silica fiber lacking a hermetic carbon coating was initially die-coated with a photopolymerizable, acrylate-functional, silicone composition (commercially available from Shin-Etsu under the designation "OF206") using a primary die size of 179 micrometers and a line speed of 1 m/sec.
  • the composition was polymerized by exposing the coated fiber at a line speed of 1 m/sec to ultraviolet radiation supplied from a Fusion Systems 1256 irradiator with an F10-T housing equipped with an R350 reflector, a "D" bulb, and a VPS-6 variable power supply.
  • the maximum output of the lamp i.e., when the power level was set at 100%) was 375 watts/inch.
  • the fiber was die-coated with a second photopolymerizable composition using a primary die size of 199 micrometers.
  • the composition was an acrylate- functional epoxy resin commercially available from DSM Desotech under the designation "3471-2-137.”
  • the fiber was exposed to ultraviolet radiation using the above-described Fusion Systems equipment. The power supply was set at 80% power during exposure. Following ultraviolet radiation exposure, approximately 2 meters of the resulting fiber were wrapped under low tension on a 2.5 inch diameter, 0.25 inch thick aluminum cylinder. The cylinder was then mounted horizontally in a temperature-controlled chamber and the free ends of the fiber were affixed to free hanging 25 gram weights.
  • the resulting structure was then cycled between -55°C and 70°C for a total of 30 cycles, after which the fiber was examined microscopically for defects such as dela inations and fractures. Examination revealed a total of nine defects in the form of delaminations and fractures.
  • Example 1 The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that prior to application of the second photopolymerizable composition, the fiber was cooled by exposing it to a stream of chilled helium gas in a cooling unit measuring 10 in. long. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Comparative Example A The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that a Fusion Systems dichroic reflector was positioned around the fiber and the ultraviolet lamp. The dichroic reflector reduced the amount of infrared radiation reaching the fiber during exposure. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Comparative Example A The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that during exposure the fiber was cooled by exposing it to a stream of chilled helium gas. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Example 5 The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that during exposure the fiber was cooled by encasing it in a water-cooled jacket. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Example 5 The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that during exposure the fiber was cooled by encasing it in a water-cooled jacket. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Comparative Example A The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that the exposure conditions were adjusted by reducing the power level setting to 60%. The final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.
  • Comparative Example A The procedure of Comparative Example A was followed except that prior to application of the second photopolymerizable composition, the fiber was cooled by exposing it to a stream of chilled helium gas, as described in Example 1.
  • a dichroic reflector was positioned around the fiber and the ultraviolet lamp to reduce the amount of infrared radiation reaching the fiber, as described in Example 1.
  • Example 3 exposing it to a stream of chilled helium gas, as described in Example 4.
  • the exposure conditions were the same as described in Example 5.
  • the final product displayed no evidence of delamination or fracture.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)
  • Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un procédé de revêtement d'une fibre optique (12), qui consiste: (a) à appliquer une composition photopolymérisable sur une fibre optique (12) comprenant une surface revêtue d'un premier revêtement polymère; et (b) à exposer cette composition photopolymérisable à une source (14) de rayonnement actinique, afin de former un second revêtement polymère dans des conditions propres à empêcher l'apparition dans le premier revêtement polymère de contraintes de traction induites thermiquement.
PCT/US1999/002051 1998-09-30 1999-01-29 Procede de fabrication de fibres optiques revetues WO2000018697A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU24872/99A AU2487299A (en) 1998-09-30 1999-01-29 Method of manufacturing coated optical fibers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16401598A 1998-09-30 1998-09-30
US09/164,015 1998-09-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000018697A1 true WO2000018697A1 (fr) 2000-04-06

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ID=22592612

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/002051 WO2000018697A1 (fr) 1998-09-30 1999-01-29 Procede de fabrication de fibres optiques revetues

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2487299A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000018697A1 (fr)

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63277539A (ja) * 1986-12-22 1988-11-15 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 紫外線照射装置
JPH01183434A (ja) * 1988-01-18 1989-07-21 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファィバ線引き装置及び線引き方法
JPH01203245A (ja) * 1988-02-08 1989-08-16 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 線材の樹脂被覆方法及びそれに用いる照射装置
FR2629187A1 (fr) * 1988-03-24 1989-09-29 France Etat Four a rayonnement ultraviolet pour la polymerisation de revetements photopolymerisables
JPH01286941A (ja) * 1988-01-18 1989-11-17 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの樹脂被覆硬化装置
JPH0437633A (ja) * 1990-05-30 1992-02-07 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの樹脂被覆硬化方法及びその装置
JPH04240137A (ja) * 1991-01-21 1992-08-27 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの製造方法
JPH04240136A (ja) * 1991-01-24 1992-08-27 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの製造方法
EP0509487A2 (fr) * 1991-04-19 1992-10-21 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd Fibre optique revêtue et méthode de sa fabrication
EP0530715A1 (fr) * 1991-09-03 1993-03-10 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd Fibre optique en verre
DE4226344A1 (de) * 1992-08-08 1994-02-10 Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag Verfahren zur Herstellung einer optischen Faser
WO1997037824A1 (fr) * 1996-04-04 1997-10-16 Nokia-Maillefer Holding S.A. Tubulure de protection intervenant dans un traitement d'enduisage et de sechage de fibres, rubans et filaments

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63277539A (ja) * 1986-12-22 1988-11-15 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 紫外線照射装置
JPH01183434A (ja) * 1988-01-18 1989-07-21 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファィバ線引き装置及び線引き方法
JPH01286941A (ja) * 1988-01-18 1989-11-17 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの樹脂被覆硬化装置
JPH01203245A (ja) * 1988-02-08 1989-08-16 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 線材の樹脂被覆方法及びそれに用いる照射装置
FR2629187A1 (fr) * 1988-03-24 1989-09-29 France Etat Four a rayonnement ultraviolet pour la polymerisation de revetements photopolymerisables
JPH0437633A (ja) * 1990-05-30 1992-02-07 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの樹脂被覆硬化方法及びその装置
JPH04240137A (ja) * 1991-01-21 1992-08-27 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの製造方法
JPH04240136A (ja) * 1991-01-24 1992-08-27 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光ファイバの製造方法
EP0509487A2 (fr) * 1991-04-19 1992-10-21 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd Fibre optique revêtue et méthode de sa fabrication
EP0530715A1 (fr) * 1991-09-03 1993-03-10 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd Fibre optique en verre
DE4226344A1 (de) * 1992-08-08 1994-02-10 Rheydt Kabelwerk Ag Verfahren zur Herstellung einer optischen Faser
WO1997037824A1 (fr) * 1996-04-04 1997-10-16 Nokia-Maillefer Holding S.A. Tubulure de protection intervenant dans un traitement d'enduisage et de sechage de fibres, rubans et filaments

Non-Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 101 (C - 574) 9 March 1989 (1989-03-09) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 466 (C - 646) 20 October 1989 (1989-10-20) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 504 (C - 653) 13 November 1989 (1989-11-13) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 014, no. 063 (C - 0685) 6 February 1990 (1990-02-06) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 016, no. 207 (C - 0941) 18 May 1992 (1992-05-18) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 017, no. 011 (C - 1015) 8 January 1993 (1993-01-08) *

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Publication number Publication date
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