Self-Healing Optical Layer Stack for Microbend and Delamination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical devices experience performance degradation due to physical and thermal stresses, leading to issues like microbends, delamination, and damage in polymeric coatings, which affect signal transmission and overall device functionality.
Innovation Solution
A composition for multi-layered optical devices incorporating a self-healing component with molecules possessing self-healing moieties and polymerizable moieties, formulated to provide stress relaxation and self-healing properties, with a self-healing component present in amounts greater than 30 wt.% or 0.015 equivalents per 100 g of the composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If softer polymeric coating layers are used to cushion stresses and minimize microbend formation, then microbend attenuation is reduced, but the coatings become more prone to damage from physical handling and thermal stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating self-healing moieties (such as UPy groups) into the polymeric coating composition at specific concentrations (greater than 0.015 equivalents per 100g). This modifies the chemical structure and dynamic properties of the coating, enabling it to undergo reversible assembly/disassembly processes that provide both stress cushioning and self-repair capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between softness and damage resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining conventional polymeric components with self-healing molecules possessing specific moieties. This composite approach integrates the stress-absorbing properties of soft polymers with the damage-repairing properties of self-healing molecules, achieving both microbend protection and enhanced durability simultaneously
2Object-affected harmful factors
If polymeric coating layers are engineered to be softer to better cushion stresses, then microbend formation is minimized, but voids and cavitations increase due to physical handling and thermal stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by endowing the polymeric coating with self-healing capabilities through incorporated self-healing moieties. The coating automatically detects and repairs damage (voids and cavitations) caused by physical handling and thermal stresses through reversible molecular assembly processes, eliminating the need for external intervention and preventing the accumulation of harmful defects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the dynamic parameters of the polymeric coating by introducing self-healing molecules that can reversibly assemble and disassemble. This parameter change enables the coating to adapt its structure in response to stress, maintaining integrity and preventing void formation while still providing stress cushioning
3Reliability
If multi-layered optical devices are designed to withstand stress differentials, then delamination and cracking are reduced, but the complexity of material formulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a polymeric coating composition that simultaneously provides multiple functions: stress cushioning, self-healing, and delamination prevention. The self-healing moieties (such as UPy groups) perform multiple roles including stress absorption, damage repair, and interlayer bonding enhancement, reducing the need for separate functional layers and simplifying the overall formulation while improving reliability
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
Enhances the ability of optical devices to withstand stress differentials and repair damage, improving durability and maintaining performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
at least one polymeric layer capable of imparting self-healing properties and/or stress-relaxation behavior into said multi-layered optical device
Implementation Method 2
capable of imparting self-healing properties and/or stress-relaxation behavior into said multi-layered optical device
Implementation Method 3
a self-healing component consisting of molecules possessing one or more self-healing moieties and optionally one or more polymerizable moieties
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are multi-layered optical devices including a polymeric layer disposed between and in contact with a first optical element layer and a second optical element layer, wherein the polymeric layer comprises a product of a composition comprising a self-healing component, wherein said self-healing component consists of or consists essentially of molecules comprising selfhealing moieties, wherein said composition possesses either: (a) greater than 30 wt. %, relative to the weight of the entire composition, of the self-healing component; or (b) greater than 0.015 equivalents of self-healing moieties per 100 g of the composition.