Corning Incorporated
Small diameter low attenuation optical fiber

Abstract:

An optical fiber comprising: a core having an outer radius r.sub.1; a cladding having an outer radius r.sub.4.ltoreq.31 microns; a primary coating surrounding the cladding having an outer radius r.sub.5, a thickness t.sub.p>10 microns, in situ modulus E.sub.P of 0.5 MPa or less, and a spring constant .chi..sub.P<1 MPa, where .chi..sub.P=2E.sub.P r.sub.4/t.sub.P; and a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, the secondary coating having an outer radius r.sub.6, a thickness t.sub.S=r.sub.6-r.sub.5, in situ modulus E.sub.S of 1200 MPa or greater; t.sub.S greater than 9.5 microns, wherein r.sub.6 is 50 to 67.5 microns. The fiber has a mode field diameter MFD greater than 8.2 microns at 1310 nm; a fiber cutoff wavelength of less than 1310 nm; and a bend loss at a wavelength of 1550 nm, when wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of 10 mm, of less than 1.0 dB/turn.