Optical connector and ferrule adhesion system including adhesive composition, and related methods
View Patent ↗An optical connector for terminating an optical fiber includes a ferrule, an optical fiber, and an adhesive composition disposed within a fiber-receiving passage of the ferrule. The adhesive composition, which is in contact with the inner surface of the ferrule and the optical fiber, includes a partially cross-linked resin that is a polymer and a coupling agent that chemically bonds the partially cross-linked resin to an inorganic surface of at least one of the optical fiber and the ferrule.
1. A ferrule adhesion system for use in an optical connector for terminating an optical fiber, the ferrule adhesion system comprising:
a ferrule comprising a fiber-receiving passage defining an inner surface; and
an adhesive composition, wherein:
the adhesive composition is disposed in the fiber-receiving passage of the ferrule and in contact with the inner surface of the ferrule;
the adhesive composition comprises a partially cross-linkable resin and a coupling agent;
the adhesive composition is a solid material without securing an optical fiber in the fiber-receiving passage of the ferrule; and
the coupling agent of the adhesive composition is configured to chemically bond the partially cross-linked resin to an inorganic surface of at least one of the optical fiber and the ferrule when the adhesive composition is heated.
2. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the partially cross-linkable resin has no functional groups which can react with inorganic surfaces.
3. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the partially cross-linkable resin has a melting point of at least about 250° C.
4. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the partially cross-linkable resin is configured to cross-link in the presence of air at temperatures of at least 300° C.
5. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling agent is a silane coupling agent.
6. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition is a solid powder material packed into the fiber-receiving passage of the ferrule.
7. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 6 , wherein the adhesive composition is a solid powder material as a result of a pre-reaction of the coupling agent with the partially cross-linkable resin in a mixture of the coupling agent and an organic solvent.
8. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling agent of the adhesive composition comprises at least one of an alkoxysilane, an oxime silane, an acetoxy silane, a zirconate, a titanate, a silane with an epoxy ring on one end and trimethoxy functional group at the other end, or combinations thereof.
9. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 8 , wherein the partially cross-linked resin is one chemical species selected from the group consisting of a poly(phenylene oxide), a polyamide-imide, a liquid crystal polymer, a polyether ether ketone, a cyclic olefin copolymer, or combinations thereof.
10. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 8 , wherein the partially cross-linked resin is poly(phenylene sulfide).
11. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 10 , wherein the coupling agent is a silane coupling agent.
12. The ferrule adhesion system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition is a solid powder material as a result of a pre-reaction of the coupling agent with the partially cross-linkable resin in a mixture of the coupling agent and an organic solvent.