Premium
Calorimetric quality control of UV cured optical fiber‐coatings
Author(s) -
Nicolais L.,
Apicella A.,
Grimaldi P.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1987.070330619
Subject(s) - materials science , prepolymer , differential scanning calorimetry , composite material , polymerization , coating , optical fiber , fiber , ultraviolet , shrinkage , glass fiber , glass transition , polymer , optics , optoelectronics , polyurethane , physics , thermodynamics
The application of ultraviolet (UV)‐curable polymeric coatings provides optical fibers with improved strength, microbending resistance, and long‐term durability. To ensure constant optical properties of the glass fibers during their life, fully polymerized coatings are needed. Test methods capable of determining the degree of cure and the consistency of the polymeric materials used are therefore required by the fiber technology. This investigation deals with the description of a calorimetric test method for the direct determination of the prepolymer reactivity and its final degree of cure. The analytical technique uses a modified differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) capable of direct measurements of heat fluxes generated during the UV‐activated polymerization of photoinitiated acrylic prepolymers. Finally, the degree of cure and the glass transition temperatures were determined for the polymerized coating also in presence of sorbed moisture.