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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
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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

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References

REFERENCES

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