Colored Coated Optical Fiber Primary Layer Young's Modulus Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to reduce the Young's modulus of the primary layer in colored coated optical fibers without significant changes in resin composition, and they fail to prevent an increase in Young's modulus due to additional ultraviolet irradiation.
Innovation Solution
A colored coated optical fiber is manufactured using a primary layer formed from a first ultraviolet curable resin containing a carbon-sulfur bond and 0.03 wt % to 0.65 wt % sulfur atoms, which limits the increase in Young's modulus to 0.09 MPa or less upon additional ultraviolet irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the resin composition is changed to lower the saturated Young's modulus, then the Young's modulus of the primary layer can be reduced, but the resin composition must be significantly changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ultraviolet curable resin by incorporating mercapto group-containing compounds and compounds with carbon-carbon single bonds. This allows achieving low Young's modulus (0.1-3.0 MPa) without completely reformulating the resin system, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing strength and maintaining composition simplicity.
2Strength
If ultraviolet light illuminance or irradiation amount is reduced, then the Young's modulus of the primary layer can be kept low after manufacturing, but the curability of the resin is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the resin system by adding mercapto group-containing compounds that act as polymerization inhibitors. This chemical modification allows the resin to maintain low crosslinking density and low Young's modulus even after standard ultraviolet irradiation, while still achieving adequate curability for practical use.
Solution Approach 2:
The mercapto group-containing compound acts as an intermediary that mediates between the ultraviolet curable resin and the ultraviolet light. It controls the polymerization reaction to achieve the desired balance between curability and low Young's modulus, preventing excessive crosslinking that would increase the modulus.
3Strength
If a silane coupling agent containing a mercapto group is used to improve adhesion, then the adhesion force between glass and primary layer is improved, but the curability of the coated resin is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of mercapto group-containing compounds to a specific range (0.01-5 wt%). This parameter optimization achieves the dual benefit of improved adhesion through silane coupling while limiting the polymerization inhibition effect to maintain adequate curability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively reduces the Young's modulus of the primary layer to a desired level without substantial changes in resin composition and prevents unwanted increases in Young's modulus due to further ultraviolet exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a primary layer formed of a first ultraviolet curable resin covering the bare optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
the primary layer has a carbon-sulfur bond and contains 0.03 wt % or more and 0.65 wt % or less of sulfur atoms, and wherein an increase in a Young's modulus of the primary layer due to additional ultraviolet irradiation to the primary layer is 0.09 MPa or less
Data Source
AI summary
A colored coated optical fiber includes: a bare optical fiber; a primary layer formed of a first ultraviolet curable resin covering the bare optical fiber; and a secondary layer formed of a second ultraviolet curable resin covering the primary layer, wherein the primary layer has a carbon-sulfur bond and contains 0.03 wt % or more and 0.65 wt % or less of sulfur atoms, and wherein an increase in a Young's modulus of the primary layer due to additional ultraviolet irradiation to the primary layer is 0.09 MPa or less.