At+t Corp.

Theodore L Parker

James R Petisce

Carl Raymond Taylor

Lloyd Shepherd

A coating system for individual glass fibers of a lightwave communications system has improved strippability, particularly in situations where a group of such fibers are arrayed together in what is known as a ribbon. A preferred embodiment includes two layers (primary and secondary) of polymeric materials surrounding the glass fiber. The primary layer comprises an oligomer (50-80% by weight), a diluent (15-40% by weight), and additives (5-35% by weight). The oligomer comprises polyol 'A,' diisocyanate 'B,' and a hydroxy-terminated alkyl acrylate 'C' having the structure C-B-A-B-C. At least one of the additives contains a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component (1-20% by weight) having a structure R.sub.1 --(R).sub.n --R.sub.2 ; where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 comprises an alkyl group or an OH group, and R is a combination of C, H or C, H, O. In an alternative embodiment, the need for a diluent is substantially eliminated by using an oligomer having the structure E-D-E where 'D' represents a carboxy-terminated polyol, and 'E' represents a glycidyl acrylate.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Theodore L Parker