D1364 BT secondary coatings on optical fiber

• US 8,734,945 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covestro (Netherlands BV (Covestro AG)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Cattron, Wendell Wayne, Schmid, Steven Robert, Murphy, Edward Joseph, Zimmerman, John Monroe, Tortorello, Anthony Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Chriss, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez, Ricardo E
• Application Number:
  US13/868,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• US Class Current: 428/392
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 25/1065 Multiple coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/48 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/672 Esters of acrylic or alkyl acrylic acid having only one group containing active hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/724 Combination of aromatic polyisocyanates with (cyclo)aliphatic polyisocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 163/00 Coating compositions based on epoxy resins; Coating compositions based on derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/14 Polyurethanes having carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/16 having terminal carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/12 by surface treatment, e.g. by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2964 Artificial fiber or filament

Abstract

The invention relates to a Radiation Curable Secondary Coating composition for use on an Optical Fiber. The Radiation Curable Secondary Coating composition is a urethane-free Alpha Oligomer prepared by reaction of the following: (a) an acrylate compound selected from an alcohol-containing acrylate or alcohol-containing methacrylate compound, (b) an anhydride compound, (c) an epoxy-containing compound, (d) optionally an extender compound, and (e) optionally a catalyst. The invention also relates to a coated wire and to a coated optical fiber.

Claims

1. A radiation curable secondary coating composition comprising a secondary coating oligomer blend;

wherein said secondary coating oligomer blend comprises alpha oligomer, a beta oligomer, and a gamma oligomer;

wherein said alpha oligomer is urethane free, has an acid value of about 5 mg KOH/g or less;

has a number average molecular weight of about 500 g/mol or more and equal to or less than about 2,000 g/mol;

and is prepared by reaction comprising;

an acrylate compound selected from an alcohol containing acrylate or alcohol containing methacrylate compound,

an anhydride compound,

an epoxy containing compound,

an extender compound, and

an alpha oligomer catalyst selected from the group consisting of triarylphosphine catalyst, phosphonium salt, tertiary amine and metal catalyst;

wherein said beta oligomer is different from said alpha oligomer;

wherein said beta oligomer has a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 3,000 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol, and is prepared by reaction comprising;

hydroxyethyl acrylate,

one or more diisocyanates,

a polyol selected from the group consisting of polyester polyols and polyether polyols, said polyol having a number average molecular weight in the range of from 300 g/mol to 10,000 g/mol, and

a beta oligomer catalyst selected from the group consisting of dibutyl in dilaurate, metal carboxylate, sulfonic acid, amino base catalyst, organo base catalyst, triphenyl phosphine, alkoxide of zirconium, alkoxide of titanium, and ionic liquid phosphonium salt, ionic liquid imidazolium salt, and ionic liquid pyridinium salt;

wherein said gamma oligomer is an epoxy diacrylate;

wherein the total amount of the alpha oligomer and the beta oligomer included in the radiation curable secondary coating composition is from about 30 to about 95 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition, and

wherein the beta oligomer is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 30 wt. % of the total amount of the alpha oligomer and the beta oligomer present in the composition;

wherein said radiation curable composition when applied and cured as a secondary coating on an optical fiber has;

A) a toughness of greater than about 12 J/m3, a secant modulus of less than about 1500 MPa, and a Tg greater than about 50°

C.;

B) an elongation of from about 30% to about 80%;

C) a change in equilibrium modulus of about 20% or less when aged for 60 days at 85°

C. and 85% relative humidity;

D) an oil sensitivity of about 10% or less and

E) a water sensitivity of about 10% or less.