OPTICAL FIBER COMPRISING POLYIMIDE-SILICONE BLOCK COPOLYMER COATING, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

Abstract of the DisclosureA silicone-based composite coating system for a glassoptical fiber, the system comprising a silicone polymerundercoating component and a silicone-polyimide blockcopolymer overcoating component, is provided. The coatingsystem can be applied entirely on-line, improves thehandling characteristics of the fibers over conventionalsilicone-coated fibers, offers an excellent combination ofoptical and elastic properties, and does not compromise thehigh-temperature operating characteristics ofsilicone-based coating systems. Preferably, the siliconepolymer undercoating is applied by a rapid on-line coatingprocess wherein the components of the two-package siliconecoating system are continuously combined, mixed and appliedto the fiber using novel apparatus which continuouslydelivers the coating to the liquid coater at a ratecorresponding to the rate of coating application to thefiber.