D1381 supercoatings for optical fiber

Abstract

The invention provides an optical fiber coated with a Supercoating, wherein the Supercoating comprises at least two layers, wherein the first layer is a Primary Coating that is in contact with the outer surface of the optical fiber and the second layer is a Secondary Coating in contact with the outer surface of the Primary Coating, wherein the cured Primary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity: A) a % RAU of from about 84% to about 99%; B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.15 MPa and about 0.60 MPa; and C) a Tube Tg, of from about −25° C. to about −55° C.; wherein the cured Secondary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity: A) a % RAU of from about 80% to about 98%; B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.60 GPa and about 1.90 GPa; and C) a Tube Tg, of from about 50° C. to about 80° C.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A Supercoating suitable for coating an optical fiber;
 wherein the Supercoating comprises at least two layers, wherein the first layer is a Primary Coating that is in contact with the outer surface of the optical fiber and the second layer is a Secondary Coating in contact with the outer surface of the Primary Coating,   wherein the cured Primary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity:   A) a % RAU of from about 84% to about 99%;   B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.15 MPa and about 0.60 MPa; and   C) a Tube Tg, of from about −25° C. to about −55° C.;   wherein the cured Secondary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity:   A) a % RAU of from about 80% to about 98%;   B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.60 GPa and about 1.90 GPa; and   C) a Tube Tg, of from about 50° C. to about 80° C.;   wherein said Supercoating is capable of being successfully applied to the optical fiber at a line speed of 2100 m/min.   
     
     
         12 . The Supercoating of  claim 11 , wherein the cured Primary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity:
 A) a % RAU of from about 86% to about 90%; 
 B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.16 MPa and about 0.17 MPa; and 
 C) a Tube Tg, of from about −51° C. to about −52° C.; 
 
       and wherein the cured Secondary Coating on the optical fiber has the following properties after initial cure and after one month aging at 85° C. and 85% relative humidity:
 A) a % RAU of from about 82% to about 91%; 
 B) an in-situ modulus of between about 0.87 GPa and about 1.29 GPa; and 
 C) a Tube Tg, of from about 56° C. to about 57° C. 
 
     
     
         13 . An optical fiber coated with the Supercoating of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . The optical fiber of  claim 13  wherein said optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The optical fiber of  claim 13  wherein said optical fiber is a mufti-mode optical fiber.