Laser-markable sheathing

• US 6,846,536 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Priesnitz, Ulrich, Schneider, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, PAMELA R
• Application Number:
  US09/665,760
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 428/34.9, 428/35.7, 428/36.91, 174/120.SR, 174/120.C, 174/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 428/36.91
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/348 using radiant energy, e.g. a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/361 being the colour of the insulation or conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

The laser-markable sheathing comprises a carbon-blacked inner PE layer with a soot proportion of 2.5±0.5% by weight and an outer PE layer 0.05 to 0.2 mm thick. The outer PE layer completely absorbs the laser radiation (λ=532 nm) used for the marking, and the inner layer beneath it remains intact. A largely carbon-free, foamlike structure which greatly scatters incident light serves as an abrasion-proof marking. The sheathing is suitable for cable cores, fiber-optic cable strands, and the like.

Claims

1. A communication cable having a sheathing, the sheathing comprising:

a first layer of a first material containing a first proportion of a dye admixed with said first material, and bounding a core of said communication cable;

a second layer adjacent said first layer, said second layer forming an exterior surface having a marking face marked by irradiation with photons, and said second layer being formed of a second material and containing a second proportion of the dye smaller than said first proportion of dye which is admixed with the second material, said second proportion of dye associated with said second layer being selected to cause a color change upon irradiation with photons by melting an irradiated region, thereby forming a foamed CO₂ region that scatters incident light.

2. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein said second material is one of translucent and transparent for the radiation used for marking.

3. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein at least one dimension selected from the group consisting of said second proportion of dye associated with said second layer and a thickness of said second layer is adjusted such that said second layer completely absorbs the radiation used for marking.

4. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein said dye in said first and second layers is carbon material selected from the group consisting of soot and graphite.

5. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 4, wherein the proportion of said carbon material in said second layer is in a range from 0.2 to 0.8% by weight.

6. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 4, wherein the proportion of said carbon material in said second layer is in a range from 0.2 to 0.5% by weight.

7. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of said second layer is in a range from 0.01 to 1.0 mm.

8. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of said second layer is in a range from 0.05 to 0.2 mm.

9. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 4, wherein the proportion of said carbon material in said first layer is in a range from 1 to 3% by weight.

10. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein said first layer and said second layer are formed of the same material.

11. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first layer and said second layer are formed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic material, viscoelastic material, and an elastomer.

12. The communication cable having the sheathing according to claim 1, wherein said first layer and said second layer are one of welded, glued, and joined together by an adhesion promoter.

20. The sheathing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second materials selected from the group consisting of stabilizers and aging protectants admixed therewith.

13. A sheathing article, comprising:

a sheathing separating an interior from an exterior, and having an exterior layer;

said exterior layer being transparent to a radiation used for marking said exterior layer, and containing a proportion of a dye selected from the group consisting of soot and graphite that is admixed with said sheathing; and

a plurality of predetermined characteristics of said exterior layer being selected from the group consisting of a thickness of the exterior layer and the proportion of said dye, the plurality of predetermined characteristics selected such that said exterior layer absorbs the radiation used for marking completely, and a color change results within an irradiated region upon irradiation by melting the irradiated region, thereby forming a foamed CO₂ region that scatters incident light.

14. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein said exterior layer is translucent to the radiation used for the marking.

15. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein the proportion of the dye is at least 0.2% by weight and at most 0.8% by weight.

16. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of said exterior layer is between 0.01 and 1.0 mm.

17. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein the thickness of said exterior layer is between 0.05 to 0.2 mm.

18. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein said exterior layer is formed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic material, viscoelastic material, and an elastomer.

19. The sheathing according to claim 13, wherein said exterior layer has materials selected from the group consisting of stabilizers and aging protectants admixed therewith.