Optical fiber ribbons and ribbon matrix materials having low oligomer content

Abstract

Fiber optic ribbon matrix materials having low oligomer content and fiber optic ribbons that contain a matrix prepared from such compositions are disclosed.

1 . An optical fiber ribbon comprising:
 a plurality of optical fibers; and   a ribbon matrix, comprising at least one monomeric component present in an aggregate amount of 80 weight percent or more and an oligomeric component in an aggregate amount of 3 weight percent or less.   
     
     
         2 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon matrix comprises:
 an inner matrix surrounding and encapsulating the optical fibers, wherein the inner matrix is the cured product of an inner matrix composition comprising at least one monomeric component present in an aggregate amount of 80 weight percent or more, and wherein an aggregate oligomeric component of the inner matrix composition is 3 weight percent or less; and   an outer matrix encapsulating and surrounding the inner matrix.   
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 85 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is 2 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         4 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 90 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is 1 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         5 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 95 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         6 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 97 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         7 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the inner matrix has a Young's Modulus of at least 750 MPa. 
     
     
         8 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the inner matrix is substantially free of oligomers. 
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes bisphenol A-based diacrylate monomers. 
     
     
         10 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (10) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of at least 50 weight percent. 
     
     
         11 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (10) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 50-65 weight percent. 
     
     
         12 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes epoxy diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 30-40 weight percent. 
     
     
         13 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 1 , wherein the ribbon matrix comprises:
 an inner matrix surrounding and encapsulating the optical fibers; and   an outer matrix surrounding the inner matrix, wherein the outer matrix is the cured product of an outer matrix composition comprising at least one monomeric component present in an aggregate amount of 80 weight percent or more, and wherein an aggregate oligomeric component of the outer matrix composition is 3 weight percent or less.   
     
     
         14 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 85 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is 2 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         15 . The optical fiber ribbon of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 90 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is 1 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         16 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 95 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         17 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 97 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         18 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the outer matrix has a Young's Modulus of at least 250 MPa. 
     
     
         19 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (4) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of at least 25 weight percent. 
     
     
         20 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (4) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 25-35 weight percent. 
     
     
         21 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (30) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of at least 25 weight percent. 
     
     
         22 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes ethoxylated (30) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 25-35 weight percent. 
     
     
         23 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes epoxy diacrylate monomer present in an amount of at least 20 weight percent. 
     
     
         24 . The optical fiber ribbon of one or more of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one monomeric component includes epoxy diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 20-35 weight percent. 
     
     
         25 . An optical fiber ribbon, comprising:
 a plurality of optical fibers; and   a ribbon matrix, comprising:
 an inner matrix surrounding and encapsulating the optical fibers, wherein the inner matrix is the cured product of an inner matrix composition substantially free of oligomer components; and 
 an outer matrix surrounding the inner matrix, wherein the outer matrix is the cured product of an outer matrix composition substantially free of oligomer components. 
   
     
     
         26 . An optical fiber ribbon matrix composition, comprising:
 at least one monomeric component present in an aggregate amount of 80 weight percent or more, wherein   an aggregate oligomeric component of the matrix composition is 3 weight percent or less.   
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 85 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is about 2 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 90 weight percent or more, and wherein the aggregate oligomeric component is 1 weight percent or less. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 95 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one monomeric component is present in an aggregate amount of 97 weight percent or more. 
     
     
         31 . A matrix composition, comprising:
 ethoxylated (10) bisphenol-A diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 50-65 weight percent; and   epoxy diacrylate monomer present in an amount of 30-40 weight percent.   
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31 , further comprising a photoinitiator present in an amount of 0.5 to 10 weight percent. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein the composition is substantially free of urethane acrylate oligomeric components.