Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T20:18:15.228Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ultraviolet Curable Silicone Optical Fiber Coatings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Gail J. Dehli
Affiliation:
Speciality Electron Materials, Elastomers and Engineering Industries Development, Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan 48686
Chi-Long Lee
Affiliation:
Elastomers and Engineering Industries Research, Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan 48686
Michael A. Lutz
Affiliation:
Speciality Electron Materials, Elastomers and Engineering Industries Development, Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan 48686
Toshio Suzuki
Affiliation:
Research Department, Toray Silicone Co., Ltd., Tokyo 103, Japan
Get access

Abstract

Technology coupling fast ultraviolet (UV) cure response with elastomeric properties in silicone formulations has been developed. Rapid photocure was obtained through addition of mercaptan to vinyl on silicon via a free radical chain reaction resulting in a monosulfide link. One optical fiber coating based on the technology, OPTIGARD™ X3-6662, is a onepart formulation which can be cured very rapidly (≤0.1 sec) upon UV exposure (≥25 mJ/cm2) to provide a low refractive index (RI=1.42), elastomeric film exhibiting good low temperature properties. A high refractive index counterpart (RI=1.51), OPTIGARD™ X3-6663, was obtained through incorporation of a controlled amount of phenyl groups into the polymer backbone. The technology, an IR-100 Award winner in 1985, is being used by the fiber optic industry to satisfy their need for coatings which will cure fast, perform over a wide temperature range, and be moisture insensitive.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. For a more in depth review, consult the following: Chyneweth, A. G. and Miller, S. E., Optical Fiber Telecommunications (Academic Press, New York, 1979).Google Scholar
2. Morgan, R. C., Radiation Curing, 1 (3), 11 (1974).Google Scholar
3. Lee, C. L. and Lutz, M. A. (unpublished).Google Scholar
4. Noll, W., Chemistry and Technology of Silicones (Academic Press, New York, 1968) pp. 494500.Google Scholar
5. (a) Polmanteer, K. E. and Koch, R. H., Ind. Engng. Chem., 49, 49 (1956). (b) S. Nitzche and M. Wick, Kunstoffe, 47, 431 (1957).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Billmeyer, F. W. Jr., Textbook of Polymer Science 2nd ed. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1971) p. 440.Google Scholar