CA2037938A1 - Coating composition for fibers - Google Patents
Coating composition for fibersInfo
- Publication number
- CA2037938A1 CA2037938A1 CA002037938A CA2037938A CA2037938A1 CA 2037938 A1 CA2037938 A1 CA 2037938A1 CA 002037938 A CA002037938 A CA 002037938A CA 2037938 A CA2037938 A CA 2037938A CA 2037938 A1 CA2037938 A1 CA 2037938A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- aqueous coating
- coating composition
- weight percent
- polymer
- fibers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
- C03C25/10—Coating
- C03C25/24—Coatings containing organic materials
- C03C25/26—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
- C03C25/10—Coating
- C03C25/24—Coatings containing organic materials
- C03C25/26—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers
- C03C25/28—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- C03C25/30—Polyolefins
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
- C03C25/10—Coating
- C03C25/24—Coatings containing organic materials
- C03C25/26—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers
- C03C25/32—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- C03C25/326—Polyureas; Polyurethanes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
- C08J3/02—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques
- C08J3/03—Making solutions, dispersions, lattices or gels by other methods than by solution, emulsion or suspension polymerisation techniques in aqueous media
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
- C09D5/00—Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced; Filling pastes
- C09D5/02—Emulsion paints including aerosols
- C09D5/024—Emulsion paints including aerosols characterised by the additives
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)
- Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
- Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
- Paints Or Removers (AREA)
Abstract
COATING COMPOSITION FOR FIBERS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An aqueous coating composition for fibers comprising, a thermoplastic polymer powder, a surfactant, A film former polymer, a thickening agent, the balance being water. When coated onto a bundle or strand of glass fibers the coated glass fibers have a final solids content range from about 25 - 30 weight percent and have good flexibility and good compressive strength.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An aqueous coating composition for fibers comprising, a thermoplastic polymer powder, a surfactant, A film former polymer, a thickening agent, the balance being water. When coated onto a bundle or strand of glass fibers the coated glass fibers have a final solids content range from about 25 - 30 weight percent and have good flexibility and good compressive strength.
Description
~ ~ 23 1 2 6A
~1--DBCRIPI ION
COATING COMPOSITION FC~R FIBERS
L~C~lcA~ 71~,0 This invention rielates to impregnant or coating compositions for fibers. The coating compositions of the present invention are especially useful for coating continuous glass strands for use as an overwrap on a fiber optical cable.
. .
d_tll.OUllD ARr The use of coating compositi3ns on fibers is well known and coating compositions are applied to the surIace of the fibers for -`j several reasons. While coating compo~itions are usuRlly applied tothe fibers for the purpose of protecting the fibers during processing 2 5 subsequent to their formation, such compositions can also have incorporated into their compositions cerhin components which impart properties which ~cilihte their usage. Such properties which can be improved include impact strength, compressive strength, strand integrity, flexibility, toughness, and improved adherence 30 between the fiber~nd ~ matrix resin.
Such coated fiber are useful in overcoatin~ or wrapping fibers or cables such as, i`or example9 optical ~Mes. Typically, glass fibers are used as ~n overwrap on a cable or fiber and a thermoplastic resin is soli~ified on the glasis ffbers typic~lly by an extruded overcoat~
`` 35 There is no adhesion between the extruded jflcket ~nd the braided, helically wound or otherwise applied overwrap. While installing a .
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cable, grips are attached to the ends of the cable. Due to the poor adhesion between the braided glass overwrap and the extruded coating the grips tend to pull the extruded coating off the cable. The use of the thermoplastic impregnated strands, according to the present invention, prevents this by adhering to the extruded overcoat.
An object of the present invention is to provide a slurry or coating composition for coating glass fibers useful as an overwrap or CoAting on cables or fibers. It is a further object to proYide a coating composition which does not suffer the drawbacks OI conventionally 15 coated fibers. In cables currently produced special members are required to prevent buckling. These members are expensive and difficult to use. The thermoplastic impregnated overwrap of the present invention becomes the anti-buckling member after it is fused.
u It is still a futher object to provide d coating composition which can ~0 be totally bound to an extruded protective coating which typicelly surrounds the cable or fiber.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides fln aqueous coating composition 2 5 useful for glass strands which comprises a thermoplastic resinous dispersion with a film formin~ polymer.
The coating of the present invention comprises: a thermoplastic resin (preferably polyethylene polymer powder~ a surfactant, a film forming polymer (preferably a polyurethane latex polymer~, a gel or 30 thickening agent, the balance being water.
According to one preferred use of the present invention, the thermoplastic resin polymer is suspended in the aqueous coating composition in the powdered form when coated on a bundle or strand OI fibers or filaments. The coated strand is then wrapped around a rj' 35 cable or core. After the cable or core has been wrapped with the strand, a thermoplastic jacket is e~truded over the top of the cable or core~ The heat of the molten polymer causes the thermoplastic , ~ :
polymer powder in the overwrflp to melt and flow. The strand can also be preheated prior to the extrusion of the thermoplastic jacket to provide a more complete fusion of the powdered polymer on the overwrap. Upon c~lin~,? the wrapped cQble stiffens imparting anti-buckling and stiffness to the cable without adding a separate stiffness 0 member.
The present invention achieves a desirable cable without the need to use self crosslinking resinous materials to provide partial curing Ol to reduce tackiness of the coatingO The present invention further does not require the use of any lubricants.
15The aqueous coating composition is especially useful in impregnating continuous glass strands in conventional in-line or off-line coating processes.
.~, - These and other aspects and adv~ntages of the present invention will become more clear aIter consideration is given to the 20 detailed description of the invention which follows.
. .
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION
The present invention is employable with any glass fiber 25 conventionally utilized Ior the reinforcement of polymeric resins.
The term "glass fibers" as used herein shall mean filaments formed by attenuation of one or more streams of molten glass and to strands ` formed when such glass fiber ~llaments are gathered together in forming. The term sh~ll also mean yarns and cords formed by 31~ applying and/or twisting a multiplicity of strands together and to woven and non-woven fabrics which are formed of such glass fiber strands, yarns, or cords. Preferflbly, the coating formulation OI the present invention is us~ble with conventionally available fibers.
The glass fibers used as input to an off-line process can be sized with any conventîonally known sizing composition, which is well known to those skilled in the art~
The individufll components utilized in the practice of this invention are commerclally available and cAn thus be simply blended . -`
. :~
~ ~ 3 ,~ ~ ~3 with one another in the preparation of the formulations embodyingthe features of the present invention.
The invention comprises an aqueous coating composition comprising, approximately, on a weight percent basis:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 5 - 50 surfactant .5- 1.5 film former polymer .5 - 5 a thickening agent 0 - .1 water balance 15 Final solids content ranges from 6 to 56 weight percent. The coating composition is applied so as to deposit a dried coating on the fibers corresponding to about 5 to 50 weigh$ percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI)~
Preferably the aqueous coating composition comprisin~, 20 approximately, on a weight percent basis-Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 18 - 24 surfactant .75- 1.0 film fomer polymer 1- 3 a thickening agent 0 - .05 water balance ; Final solids content ranges from 20 to 28 weight percent. The coatin~ composition is applied so as to deposit a dried coating on the 3~ ffbers corresponding to about 24 to 30 weight percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI).
The thermoplastic resin used in the aqueous coating composition may be selected îrom among conventional thermoplastic resin powders such as, ~or example, polyesters, polyethylenes, 35 polypropylenes, polyamides and other such con~rentional polymers available in a powde~ed formO The particle size of these powdered polymers should be less than 100 microns. One such material is a ~: , ' :
2~37~
polyethylene polymer, Microthene FN 510 R available from USI
Chemicals Co. In a preferred embodiment the average particle size of the thermoplastic powder is in the range of about 20 microns or ~; less. It is desired th/lt the resins useful for coating cables (especially optic~l fibers) have good impact strength, a high modulus of elasticity, good flexibility, and good Qdhesion to polyethylene and PVC jacketing materi~ls.
The surfactant used in the aqueous co~ting composition may be a conventional polyether polyol, such as, for example an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol sold by the trade name TRITON X 100 R available from the Rohm ~c Haas Co.
The dispersible or emulsifiable film forming polymer used in the aqueous coating composition rnay be a conventional elastomeric polyurethane polymer, such as, for example, RUCO 2010 L ~v~ilable from the RUCO Polymer Corp.
2 0 The gel or thickening ~gent used in the aqueous co~ting composition m~y be chosen ~rom a wide range of conventional thickening agents. Drewfloc 270, a polyamide ~rom Drew Chemical Co., has been found to be particularly useful in this application.
The arnount of water in the aqueous coating composition is that 25 amount necessary to giYe a total solids (nonaqueous) content of the aqueouQ coating composition Rufficient to co~t the fibers. It is preferred to hAve the total solids content in the range of about 5 to 50 weight percent, most preferably about 20-28 weight percent.
In the preferred method of formulation of the aqueous coating 30 composition, the surfactant is dissolved in about three fourths of the water forming a main mixture. The therrnoplastic tesin powder is dispersed into the main mixture. The film foming polymer is then added directly to the resulting main mixture. The thickening agent is dissol~ed il~ the ~naaining water, and there~fter added to the main 3 5 mixture. The resulting agueous coating composition has a good consistency, low viscosity, and good stability.
.
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The aqueous coating composition can be applied to continuous strand glass fibers in coaventional off-line or in-line processes. In the in-line process the coating is applied as a sizing in the fiber forming operation. In the off-line process a bundle of input strands of glass fibers are pulled through an impregnation bath comprising the aqueous coating composition. The excess coating composition is removed by a stripper die. 1~he resulting wet impregnAted or coflted bundle is dried in a conventional manner. The coated glass strands may be dried at elevated temper~tures in an oven by any of the processes known to those skilled in the art to remove a substantial 15 flmount of the water. They may also be dried using a dielectric oven.
The drying of the coated glass strand at elevated temperatures does ;~; not melt or Iuse the thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin is held to the glass fiber by the film forming polymer.
In one process a package is formed by taking up the dry or 20 nearly dry strand on a winder. The package typically has a 5-20 percent by weight residual moisture. Further moisture is then removed by oven drying the package. The oven temperature must be `~ below the melting point of the powdered polymer. The resultant coated strand is plyable and has excellent powder holding capability.
i 25 The coated glass fiber is especially useful fiS an overwrap on `: any type OI c~ble, or on a fiber optic cable. It is also within the contemplated scope of the preseot invention that the coated glass fiber can be used in any of a number of reinforcement products. The coated glass flber is overwrapped on a cable or fiber in a manner 30 known to those skilled in the art.
A glass fiber coated with the aqueous coating composition of the present invention is superior to the conventionally coated or otherwise sized fibers currently available since the coated glass fibers have a desirably higher loading content of thermophstic resin !~'i 35 powder. The glass strand, as coated, is fle~cible, and Is as easily processed as conventionally sized glass flbers.
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It is also within th~ contemplated scope of the present inYention that such oYerwrapped cable have a secondary coating or be further ( oated with an extrusion of some type of thermoplastic resin ; such that the thermoplastic resin on the glass fibers not only fuses together with itself, but also is totally bound with the secondary thermoplastie coat. This then provides a coated glass fiber whi~h behaves both 8S a tension member and as a compression memberO As a compression member the glass Iiber overwrap on the cable serves as an antibuckling element to prevent damage to the core fiber or cable during processing, installation or in-use curing temperature cyclin~, especially eold temperature exposures (-40C).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
`: EXAMPLE 1 ~0An inventive coating composition prepared from the following ingredients:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder, Microthene FN 510 from USI Chemicals Co. 25 alkyl aryl polyether alcohol surfactAnt T~ITON X100 from Rohm Sc Haas 0.89 polyurethane latex film forming polymer RUCO 2010 L from RUCO Polymer (::orp. 2.0 ~ 30 poly acrylamide thickening agent, Drewfloc 270 from Drew Chemical Co. .048 water balance Final solids content was about 27 weight percent. The coating 35 composition is applied onto a conventionQlly sized glass, here an H-15 76~ sized glass available from Owens~Corning Fiberglas Corporation : , , . .................. , -` ' '' '' ' ' ' ., ' ' ' '...... ~:' ~
.
2 ~
so as to deposit a dried coating on the fibers corresponding to about 26 weight percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI).
Meating the coated fibers to about 150~C causes the adhered thermoplastic resin to flow and fuse, thereby producing a fiber reinforced product especially suitable for use as A coating or overwrap for ~ cable or fiber. The coated, cured fiber reinforced 10 product when overwrapped on a cable provides a cable having the necessary flexibility and proper degree of stiffness for subsequent processing.
The fiber reinforced optical fiber or cable can have a secondary coating comprising, for example a thermoplastic resinous material which further protects the op~ical fiber. In a preferred embodiment the thermoplastic resinous material of the secondary coating is essentially the same thermoplastic resinous material used in the - aqueous coating cornposition.
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing frorn the spirit and scope thereof.
;`
~ 25 . .
.
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:
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~1--DBCRIPI ION
COATING COMPOSITION FC~R FIBERS
L~C~lcA~ 71~,0 This invention rielates to impregnant or coating compositions for fibers. The coating compositions of the present invention are especially useful for coating continuous glass strands for use as an overwrap on a fiber optical cable.
. .
d_tll.OUllD ARr The use of coating compositi3ns on fibers is well known and coating compositions are applied to the surIace of the fibers for -`j several reasons. While coating compo~itions are usuRlly applied tothe fibers for the purpose of protecting the fibers during processing 2 5 subsequent to their formation, such compositions can also have incorporated into their compositions cerhin components which impart properties which ~cilihte their usage. Such properties which can be improved include impact strength, compressive strength, strand integrity, flexibility, toughness, and improved adherence 30 between the fiber~nd ~ matrix resin.
Such coated fiber are useful in overcoatin~ or wrapping fibers or cables such as, i`or example9 optical ~Mes. Typically, glass fibers are used as ~n overwrap on a cable or fiber and a thermoplastic resin is soli~ified on the glasis ffbers typic~lly by an extruded overcoat~
`` 35 There is no adhesion between the extruded jflcket ~nd the braided, helically wound or otherwise applied overwrap. While installing a .
-- : , . .. . .
: ' ' ' - . ' - . . . .
- . . .
. ~
~ ~J ~ v' 3 '~3 23 l 26A
cable, grips are attached to the ends of the cable. Due to the poor adhesion between the braided glass overwrap and the extruded coating the grips tend to pull the extruded coating off the cable. The use of the thermoplastic impregnated strands, according to the present invention, prevents this by adhering to the extruded overcoat.
An object of the present invention is to provide a slurry or coating composition for coating glass fibers useful as an overwrap or CoAting on cables or fibers. It is a further object to proYide a coating composition which does not suffer the drawbacks OI conventionally 15 coated fibers. In cables currently produced special members are required to prevent buckling. These members are expensive and difficult to use. The thermoplastic impregnated overwrap of the present invention becomes the anti-buckling member after it is fused.
u It is still a futher object to provide d coating composition which can ~0 be totally bound to an extruded protective coating which typicelly surrounds the cable or fiber.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides fln aqueous coating composition 2 5 useful for glass strands which comprises a thermoplastic resinous dispersion with a film formin~ polymer.
The coating of the present invention comprises: a thermoplastic resin (preferably polyethylene polymer powder~ a surfactant, a film forming polymer (preferably a polyurethane latex polymer~, a gel or 30 thickening agent, the balance being water.
According to one preferred use of the present invention, the thermoplastic resin polymer is suspended in the aqueous coating composition in the powdered form when coated on a bundle or strand OI fibers or filaments. The coated strand is then wrapped around a rj' 35 cable or core. After the cable or core has been wrapped with the strand, a thermoplastic jacket is e~truded over the top of the cable or core~ The heat of the molten polymer causes the thermoplastic , ~ :
polymer powder in the overwrflp to melt and flow. The strand can also be preheated prior to the extrusion of the thermoplastic jacket to provide a more complete fusion of the powdered polymer on the overwrap. Upon c~lin~,? the wrapped cQble stiffens imparting anti-buckling and stiffness to the cable without adding a separate stiffness 0 member.
The present invention achieves a desirable cable without the need to use self crosslinking resinous materials to provide partial curing Ol to reduce tackiness of the coatingO The present invention further does not require the use of any lubricants.
15The aqueous coating composition is especially useful in impregnating continuous glass strands in conventional in-line or off-line coating processes.
.~, - These and other aspects and adv~ntages of the present invention will become more clear aIter consideration is given to the 20 detailed description of the invention which follows.
. .
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION
The present invention is employable with any glass fiber 25 conventionally utilized Ior the reinforcement of polymeric resins.
The term "glass fibers" as used herein shall mean filaments formed by attenuation of one or more streams of molten glass and to strands ` formed when such glass fiber ~llaments are gathered together in forming. The term sh~ll also mean yarns and cords formed by 31~ applying and/or twisting a multiplicity of strands together and to woven and non-woven fabrics which are formed of such glass fiber strands, yarns, or cords. Preferflbly, the coating formulation OI the present invention is us~ble with conventionally available fibers.
The glass fibers used as input to an off-line process can be sized with any conventîonally known sizing composition, which is well known to those skilled in the art~
The individufll components utilized in the practice of this invention are commerclally available and cAn thus be simply blended . -`
. :~
~ ~ 3 ,~ ~ ~3 with one another in the preparation of the formulations embodyingthe features of the present invention.
The invention comprises an aqueous coating composition comprising, approximately, on a weight percent basis:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 5 - 50 surfactant .5- 1.5 film former polymer .5 - 5 a thickening agent 0 - .1 water balance 15 Final solids content ranges from 6 to 56 weight percent. The coating composition is applied so as to deposit a dried coating on the fibers corresponding to about 5 to 50 weigh$ percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI)~
Preferably the aqueous coating composition comprisin~, 20 approximately, on a weight percent basis-Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 18 - 24 surfactant .75- 1.0 film fomer polymer 1- 3 a thickening agent 0 - .05 water balance ; Final solids content ranges from 20 to 28 weight percent. The coatin~ composition is applied so as to deposit a dried coating on the 3~ ffbers corresponding to about 24 to 30 weight percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI).
The thermoplastic resin used in the aqueous coating composition may be selected îrom among conventional thermoplastic resin powders such as, ~or example, polyesters, polyethylenes, 35 polypropylenes, polyamides and other such con~rentional polymers available in a powde~ed formO The particle size of these powdered polymers should be less than 100 microns. One such material is a ~: , ' :
2~37~
polyethylene polymer, Microthene FN 510 R available from USI
Chemicals Co. In a preferred embodiment the average particle size of the thermoplastic powder is in the range of about 20 microns or ~; less. It is desired th/lt the resins useful for coating cables (especially optic~l fibers) have good impact strength, a high modulus of elasticity, good flexibility, and good Qdhesion to polyethylene and PVC jacketing materi~ls.
The surfactant used in the aqueous co~ting composition may be a conventional polyether polyol, such as, for example an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol sold by the trade name TRITON X 100 R available from the Rohm ~c Haas Co.
The dispersible or emulsifiable film forming polymer used in the aqueous coating composition rnay be a conventional elastomeric polyurethane polymer, such as, for example, RUCO 2010 L ~v~ilable from the RUCO Polymer Corp.
2 0 The gel or thickening ~gent used in the aqueous co~ting composition m~y be chosen ~rom a wide range of conventional thickening agents. Drewfloc 270, a polyamide ~rom Drew Chemical Co., has been found to be particularly useful in this application.
The arnount of water in the aqueous coating composition is that 25 amount necessary to giYe a total solids (nonaqueous) content of the aqueouQ coating composition Rufficient to co~t the fibers. It is preferred to hAve the total solids content in the range of about 5 to 50 weight percent, most preferably about 20-28 weight percent.
In the preferred method of formulation of the aqueous coating 30 composition, the surfactant is dissolved in about three fourths of the water forming a main mixture. The therrnoplastic tesin powder is dispersed into the main mixture. The film foming polymer is then added directly to the resulting main mixture. The thickening agent is dissol~ed il~ the ~naaining water, and there~fter added to the main 3 5 mixture. The resulting agueous coating composition has a good consistency, low viscosity, and good stability.
.
:' ' J'~ ~
231 26~
The aqueous coating composition can be applied to continuous strand glass fibers in coaventional off-line or in-line processes. In the in-line process the coating is applied as a sizing in the fiber forming operation. In the off-line process a bundle of input strands of glass fibers are pulled through an impregnation bath comprising the aqueous coating composition. The excess coating composition is removed by a stripper die. 1~he resulting wet impregnAted or coflted bundle is dried in a conventional manner. The coated glass strands may be dried at elevated temper~tures in an oven by any of the processes known to those skilled in the art to remove a substantial 15 flmount of the water. They may also be dried using a dielectric oven.
The drying of the coated glass strand at elevated temperatures does ;~; not melt or Iuse the thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin is held to the glass fiber by the film forming polymer.
In one process a package is formed by taking up the dry or 20 nearly dry strand on a winder. The package typically has a 5-20 percent by weight residual moisture. Further moisture is then removed by oven drying the package. The oven temperature must be `~ below the melting point of the powdered polymer. The resultant coated strand is plyable and has excellent powder holding capability.
i 25 The coated glass fiber is especially useful fiS an overwrap on `: any type OI c~ble, or on a fiber optic cable. It is also within the contemplated scope of the preseot invention that the coated glass fiber can be used in any of a number of reinforcement products. The coated glass flber is overwrapped on a cable or fiber in a manner 30 known to those skilled in the art.
A glass fiber coated with the aqueous coating composition of the present invention is superior to the conventionally coated or otherwise sized fibers currently available since the coated glass fibers have a desirably higher loading content of thermophstic resin !~'i 35 powder. The glass strand, as coated, is fle~cible, and Is as easily processed as conventionally sized glass flbers.
:
. , .
: ' ' ' ' ' ' ` ~ -, .
' 2 ~ 3 ~ 3 ~
It is also within th~ contemplated scope of the present inYention that such oYerwrapped cable have a secondary coating or be further ( oated with an extrusion of some type of thermoplastic resin ; such that the thermoplastic resin on the glass fibers not only fuses together with itself, but also is totally bound with the secondary thermoplastie coat. This then provides a coated glass fiber whi~h behaves both 8S a tension member and as a compression memberO As a compression member the glass Iiber overwrap on the cable serves as an antibuckling element to prevent damage to the core fiber or cable during processing, installation or in-use curing temperature cyclin~, especially eold temperature exposures (-40C).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
`: EXAMPLE 1 ~0An inventive coating composition prepared from the following ingredients:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder, Microthene FN 510 from USI Chemicals Co. 25 alkyl aryl polyether alcohol surfactAnt T~ITON X100 from Rohm Sc Haas 0.89 polyurethane latex film forming polymer RUCO 2010 L from RUCO Polymer (::orp. 2.0 ~ 30 poly acrylamide thickening agent, Drewfloc 270 from Drew Chemical Co. .048 water balance Final solids content was about 27 weight percent. The coating 35 composition is applied onto a conventionQlly sized glass, here an H-15 76~ sized glass available from Owens~Corning Fiberglas Corporation : , , . .................. , -` ' '' '' ' ' ' ., ' ' ' '...... ~:' ~
.
2 ~
so as to deposit a dried coating on the fibers corresponding to about 26 weight percent of the weight of the fibers (LOI).
Meating the coated fibers to about 150~C causes the adhered thermoplastic resin to flow and fuse, thereby producing a fiber reinforced product especially suitable for use as A coating or overwrap for ~ cable or fiber. The coated, cured fiber reinforced 10 product when overwrapped on a cable provides a cable having the necessary flexibility and proper degree of stiffness for subsequent processing.
The fiber reinforced optical fiber or cable can have a secondary coating comprising, for example a thermoplastic resinous material which further protects the op~ical fiber. In a preferred embodiment the thermoplastic resinous material of the secondary coating is essentially the same thermoplastic resinous material used in the - aqueous coating cornposition.
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing frorn the spirit and scope thereof.
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Claims (15)
1. An aqueous coating and impregnant composition consisting essentially of, on a weight percent basis:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 5 - 50 surfactant - .5 - 1.5 film former polymer .5 - 5 a thickening agent 0 -.1 water balance
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 5 - 50 surfactant - .5 - 1.5 film former polymer .5 - 5 a thickening agent 0 -.1 water balance
2. The aqueous coating composition of claim 1 having a final solids content ranging from 6 to 56 weight percent.
3. An aqueous coating and impregnant composition consisting essentially of, on a weight percent basis:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 18 - 24 surfactant .75- 1.0 film former polymer 1- 3 a thickening agent 0 - .05 water balance
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 18 - 24 surfactant .75- 1.0 film former polymer 1- 3 a thickening agent 0 - .05 water balance
4. The aqueous coating composition of claim 3 having a final solids content ranging from 20 - 28 weight percent.
5. An aqueous coating and impregnant composition consisting essentially of, on a weight percent basis:
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 25 surfactant 0.89 film former polymer 2.0 a thickening agent .048 water balance
Weight percent thermoplastic polymer powder 25 surfactant 0.89 film former polymer 2.0 a thickening agent .048 water balance
6. The aqueous coating composition of claim 5 having a final solids content of about 27 weight percent.
7. A plurality of flexible filaments at least a portion of the filament's surface being coated with a residue produced by evaporating water from the aqueous coating composition of claim 1.
8. A filament according to claim 7 wherein the filament is made of glass.
9. A wrapped optical glass fiber comprising a layer of a reinforcing material substantially covering an optical glass fiber, the reinforcing material comprises continuous filaments coated with a residue produced by evaporating water from the aqueous coating composition of claim 1.
10. The optical glass fiber of claim 9 wherein the wrapped fiber has coated thereon an extruded layer of a thermoplastic resin material.
11. The optical glass fiber of claim 10 wherein the extruded layer of thermoplastic resin material is essentially the same thermoplastic resin as the thermoplastic polymer powder in the aqueous coating composition.
12. The aqueous coating composition according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a polyethylene polymer in the powdered form.
13. The aqueous coating composition according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is an aryl alkyl polyether alcohol.
14. The aqueous costing composition according to claim 1 wherein the film former polymer is a polyurethane latex polymer.
15. The aqueous coating composition according to claim 1 wherein the thickening agent is a polyacrylamide.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US50182990A | 1990-03-30 | 1990-03-30 | |
| US501,829 | 1990-03-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2037938A1 true CA2037938A1 (en) | 1991-10-01 |
Family
ID=23995180
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002037938A Abandoned CA2037938A1 (en) | 1990-03-30 | 1991-03-11 | Coating composition for fibers |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0474836A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04506541A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR920702847A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1056093A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU635840B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9105663A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2037938A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI915621A0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991015434A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH09324136A (en) * | 1996-06-07 | 1997-12-16 | Japan Synthetic Rubber Co Ltd | Liquid curable resin composition for covering optical fiber |
| US7491778B2 (en) | 1998-11-13 | 2009-02-17 | Neptco Jv Llc | Superabsorbent water-resistant coatings |
| US6380298B2 (en) * | 1998-11-13 | 2002-04-30 | Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc. | Superabsorbent water-resistant coatings for fiber-reinforced articles |
| AU2001286568A1 (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2002-03-13 | Owens Corning | String binders comprising a powdered thermoset polymer, composites made therefrom, and methods for making same |
| US7405184B2 (en) * | 2001-12-11 | 2008-07-29 | Southwest Research Institute | Anti-traction, mobility denial methods and products |
| US7625848B2 (en) | 2001-12-11 | 2009-12-01 | Southwest Research Institute | Anti-traction compositions |
| US7067464B2 (en) | 2001-12-11 | 2006-06-27 | Southwest Research Institute | Easily dispensed, anti-traction, mobility denial system |
| US20040050581A1 (en) | 2002-09-18 | 2004-03-18 | Hager Thomas P. | Low cost, high performance flexible reinforcement for communications cable |
| US20040050579A1 (en) | 2002-09-18 | 2004-03-18 | Hager Thomas P. | Low cost, high performance flexible reinforcement for communications cable |
| JP4030499B2 (en) * | 2003-01-22 | 2008-01-09 | セントラル硝子株式会社 | Glass fiber for rubber reinforcement |
| US6828024B1 (en) * | 2003-06-30 | 2004-12-07 | Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc. | Epoxy film former string binder |
| WO2006119296A1 (en) | 2005-05-02 | 2006-11-09 | Southwest Research Institute | Methods for removing a dispersed lubricious coating from a substrate |
| US20110014467A1 (en) * | 2009-07-16 | 2011-01-20 | Brown Nancy E | Extrusion coated non-twisted yarn |
| BR112014018718B1 (en) * | 2012-01-30 | 2021-04-20 | Blh Technologies , Inc | method and product for forming a fire resistant and thermally resistant flexible sheet product |
| JP5857886B2 (en) | 2012-06-11 | 2016-02-10 | 住友電気工業株式会社 | Optical fiber |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3655353A (en) * | 1969-05-21 | 1972-04-11 | Ppg Industries Inc | Glass fiber size |
| DE3111902A1 (en) * | 1981-03-26 | 1982-10-07 | Chemische Werke Hüls AG, 4370 Marl | AQUEOUS COATING AGENT |
-
1991
- 1991-03-11 CA CA002037938A patent/CA2037938A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-03-22 BR BR919105663A patent/BR9105663A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-03-22 AU AU76608/91A patent/AU635840B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-03-22 EP EP91907203A patent/EP0474836A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-03-22 KR KR1019910701707A patent/KR920702847A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-03-22 JP JP3507290A patent/JPH04506541A/en active Pending
- 1991-03-22 WO PCT/US1991/001871 patent/WO1991015434A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-03-29 CN CN91102686A patent/CN1056093A/en active Pending
- 1991-11-28 FI FI915621A patent/FI915621A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR920702847A (en) | 1992-10-28 |
| AU7660891A (en) | 1991-10-30 |
| WO1991015434A1 (en) | 1991-10-17 |
| JPH04506541A (en) | 1992-11-12 |
| FI915621A0 (en) | 1991-11-28 |
| CN1056093A (en) | 1991-11-13 |
| EP0474836A1 (en) | 1992-03-18 |
| AU635840B2 (en) | 1993-04-01 |
| BR9105663A (en) | 1992-06-02 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |