Optical Fiber Coatings

Since the mid 1960’s, Penn Color has provided invaluable assistance to the communication industry in identifying and protecting delicate communication systems from the environment and assisting the industry in the identification of the myriad of wires that are crucial to our existence.

While insulating the first copper wires, it became evident that a method of identification would be needed to ensure proper connections and to identify needed repairs. Color became the ideal choice – and a system was developed to provide a universal palette that could be identified globally. As PVC was the most prevalent polymer for wire and cable shielding, Penn Color was a logical choice to provide the necessary PVC colorants to service the industry. Still a viable market, the vast majority of communication connections utilize hard type connections, copper or aluminum, although protective and identifying coatings have evolved – using a wide variety of polymers as well as PVC.

Part of that evolutionary track was diverted to the use of optical fibers for the transmission of voice and data communications. Benefiting from very small diameters and the ability to carry an enormous amount of data very quickly, optical fibers soon became the cable of choice for communication lines. Unlike copper wire, optical fiber is composed of a glass compound, which requires new and innovative coating techniques to protect the delicate fiber and still provide needed protection. UV curable coatings have become the ideal choice.

Durable, flexible and capable of being deposited in coatings measured in microns, Penn Color has developed systems that provide the necessary parameters for success. As with PVC coated wire, identification remains a critical part for complete success and implementation.

Each and every household today is being connected via optical fiber for phone and data communication – which only insures continued growth in this market. Penn Color is ideally situated to provide the colorants and technologies to keep this industry on the cutting edge.