UV-cure of coating for optical fiber assisted by ultrasound
An improved method for curing coatings on optical fibers, without creating additional heat and compromising the manufacturing speed of optical fibers. The method of curing a coating on an optical fiber includes the steps of passing an optical fiber through a coating die, applying a coating to the optical fiber, curing the coating on the optical fiber and exposing the optical fiber to ultrasound to facilitate curing of the coating.
1. A method of curing a coating of an optical fiber, comprising:
passing an optical fiber through at least a coating stage and a curing stage, wherein a UV curable coating is applied to said fiber during said coating stage and curing of said coating is effected by exposing said coating to at least UV radiation and ultrasound.
2. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein both of said UV radiation and ultrasound are applied to said coating during said curing stage.
3. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ultrasound is a frequency between 2×10 4 to 10 9 Hz.
4. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ultrasound and said UV radiation are applied to said coating at the same time.
5. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ultrasound is applied in pulses.
6. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said exposing step occurs after said coating step and prior to said curing step.
7. The method of curing a coating of an optical fiber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said coating is at least partially cured during said curing step and said exposing step occurs after said curing step.