Corning Incorporated
Small outer diameter low attenuation optical fiber

Abstract:

An optical fiber comprising: (a) a core having an outer radius r.sub.1; (b) a cladding having an outer radius r.sub.4<32.5 microns; (c) a primary coating surrounding the cladding having an outer radius r.sub.5, a thickness t.sub.P>8 microns, in situ modulus E.sub.P.ltoreq.0.35 MPa and a spring constant .chi..sub.P<2.0 MPa, where .chi..sub.P=2E.sub.P r.sub.4/t.sub.P; and (d) a secondary coating surrounding said primary coating, the secondary coating having an outer radius r.sub.6 and a thickness t.sub.S=r.sub.6-r.sub.5, and in situ modulus E.sub.S of 1200 MPa or greater; t.sub.S>8 microns, r.sub.6.ltoreq.56 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.