Commercial Development of Advanced UV Curable Index Matching Materials

In this Phase I SBIR program, Tetramer Technologies will develop new, commercially attractive, patentable, UV curable refractive index matching materials which have a significant shelf life in the uncured state. The value proposition to the customer working with fiber optic cabling will be increased reliability in refractive index matching materials (IMM) for fiber optic coupling and increased performance through a decreased attenuation at a fiber splice. Currently, the long term stability of uncured IMM is unacceptable when the temperature and humidity are not controlled, which is the case in most field operations. In addition to these basic problems, as laser power increases within the fibers, issues associated with the IMM overheating and igniting have even been reported. What is required for a successful curable IMM are materials which are stable to curing across a range of temperature and humidity; excellent match of RI, thermo-optic coefficient, and dn/d; high thermal stability; low flammability; low attenuation; and excellent mechanical properties such as low shrinkage, high bond strength, and low coefficient of thermal expansion.