D1364 bt secondary coatings on optical fiber

Abstract

The invention relates to a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating composition for use on an Optical Fiber. The Radiation Curable Secondary Coating composition is a urethane-free Alpha Oligomer prepared by reaction of the following: (a) an acrylate compound selected from an alcohol-containing acrylate or alcohol-containing methacrylate compound, (b) an anhydride compound, (c) an epoxy-containing compound, (d) optionally an extender compound, and (e) optionally a catalyst. The invention also relates to a coated wire and to a coated optical fiber.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A process for coating a glass optical fiber with a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating, comprising:
 (a) operating a glass drawing tower to produce a glass optical fiber;   (b) applying a radiation curable primary coating composition onto the surface of the optical fiber;   (c) applying radiation to effect curing of said radiation curable primary coating composition;   (d) applying a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating to the radiation curable primary coating; and   (e) applying radiation to effect curing of said Radiation Curable Secondary Coating;   wherein said glass drawing tower is operated at a line speed of between about 750 m/min and about 2,100 m/min;   wherein radiation may be applied sequentially, first to the Radiation Curable Primary Coating and then to the Radiation Curable Secondary Coating, known as wet on dry application; or the radiation may be applied concurrently to the Radiation Curable Primary Coating and to the Radiation Curable Secondary Coating, known as wet on wet application;   wherein the cured Secondary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity:   A) a % RAU of from about 80% to about 98%;   B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.60 GPa and about 1.90 GPa; and   C) a Tube Tg, of from about 50° C. to about 80° C.;   wherein said Radiation Curable Secondary Coating is selected from the group consisting of:   a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating comprising   A) a Secondary Coating Oligomer Blend, which is mixed with   B) a first diluent monomer;   C) a second diluent monomer;   D) optionally, a third diluent monomer;   E) an antioxidant;   F) a first photoinitiator;   G) a second photoinitiator; and   H) optionally a slip additive or a blend of slip additives;   wherein said Secondary Coating Oligomer Blend comprises:   α) an Omega Oligomer; and   β) an Upsilon Oligomer;   wherein said Omega Oligomer is synthesized by the reaction of   α1) a hydroxyl-containing (meth)acrylate;   α2) an isocyanate;   α3) a polyether polyol; and   α4) tripropylene glycol; in the presence of   α5) a polymerization inhibitor; and   α6) a catalyst; to yield the Omega Oligomer;   wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of copper naphthenate, cobalt naphthenate, zinc naphthenate, triethylamine, triethylenediamine, 2-methyltriethyleneamine, dibutyl tin dilaurate; metal carboxylates, including, but not limited to: organobismuth catalysts such as bismuth neodecanoate; zinc neodecanoate; zirconium neodecanoate; zinc 2-ethylhexanoate; sulfonic acids, including but not limited to dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid; amino or organo-base catalysts, including, but not limited to: 1,2-dimethylimidazole and diazabicyclooctane; triphenyl phosphine; alkoxides of zirconium and titanium, including, but not limited to Zirconium butoxide and Titanium butoxide; and Ionic liquid phosphonium salts; and tetradecyl(trihexyl)phosphonium chloride; wherein said β) Upsilon Oligomer is an epoxy diacrylate; and   a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating composition, wherein said composition comprises   A) a Secondary Coating Oligomer Blend; which is mixed with   B) a first diluent;   C) a second diluent;   D) an antioxidant;   E) a first photoinitiator;   F) a second photoinitiator; and   G) optionally a slip additive or a blend of slip additives;   wherein said Secondary Coating Oligomer Blend comprises:   α) an Alpha Oligomer;   β) a Beta Oligomer;   γ) a Gamma Oligomer;   wherein said Alpha Oligomer is synthesized by the reaction of   α1) an anhydride; with   α2) a hydroxyl group containing acrylate;   and the reaction product of α1) and α2) is then reacted further with α3) an epoxy; in the presence of   α4) a first catalyst;   α5) a second catalyst;   wherein said first catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a triarylphosphine catalyst, such as triphenylphosphine (TPP) or tritolylphosphine; and   wherein said second catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a tertiary amine catalyst, such as the triethylene triamine catalyst 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO); and   α6) an polymerization inhibitor; to yield the Alpha Oligomer;   wherein said Beta Oligomer is synthesized by the reaction of   β1) a hydroxyl group containing acrylate;   β2) a diisocyanate; and   β3) a polyether polyol; in the presence of   β4) a catalyst;   wherein said β4) catalyst is selected from the group consisting of copper naphthenate, cobalt naphthenate, zinc naphthenate, triethylamine, triethylenediamine, 2-methyltriethyleneamine, dibutyl tin dilaurate; metal carboxylates, including, but not limited to: organobismuth catalysts such as bismuth neodecanoate, CAS 34364-26-6; zinc neodecanoate, CAS 27253-29-8; zirconium neodecanoate, CAS 39049-04-2; and zinc 2-ethylhexanoate, CAS 136-53-8; sulfonic acids, including but not limited to dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, CAS 27176-87-0; and methane sulfonic acid, CAS 75-75-2; amino or organo-base catalysts, including, but not limited to: 1,2-dimethylimidazole, CAS 1739-84-0; and diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, CAS 280-57-9; and triphenyl phosphine; alkoxides of zirconium and titanium, including, but not limited to zirconium butoxide, (tetrabutyl zirconate) CAS 1071-76-7; and titanium butoxide, (tetrabutyl titanate) CAS 5593-70-4; and ionic liquid phosphonium, imidazolium, and pyridinium salts, such as, but not limited to, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, CAS No. 374683-44-0; 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, CAS No. 284049-75-8; and N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium chloride, CAS No. 125652-55-3; and tetradecyl(trihexyl)phosphonium; and wherein said Gamma Oligomer is an epoxy diacrylate.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the glass drawing tower is operated at a line speed of about 2,100 m/min.