Fast Curing, Next Generation Primary Coating Technology
Providing improved consistency in optical fiber performance and in the draw tower process.
Abstract
Next generation fiber optic primary coating technology has been developed to meet fast curing demands as fiber optic manufacturing switches to UVLED lamps and draw speeds exceeding 3000 m/min. A new such coating was tested on a draw tower simulator with stainless steel wire and at Nextrom’s Fiber Draw R&D Center using the High-Speed Wet-On-Wet Coating System and UVLED lamps with varying draw speed, lamp power and fiber temperature. The next generation primary coating exhibited significantly improved cure speed as observed from degree of cure and modulus buildup compared to current Covestro primary
coatings. Additionally, the new primary coating exhibited much improved draw tower process consistency, with exceptional modulus stability across all draw speeds and fiber temperatures. All improved performances indicate that our new primary coating technology could not only address the industrial need for fast draw speeds, but also offer additional benefits for energy and helium savings.