Specialty Optical Fibers Handbook

4.6.2 Monomers

Diluent monomers can be monofunctional or multifunctional with respect to

UV-reactive terminal groups. Monofunctional diluent monomers are generally

more efficient in their diluency; however, they are only capable of reacting

linearly and will not add to the crosslinking of polymer networks. Monofunc-

tional monomers can be aliphatic (e.g., isodecyl acrylate [IDA]), aromatic (e.g.,

phenoxyethyl acrylate [PEA]), or alicyclic (e.g., isobornyl acrylate [IBOA]). In

general, monofunctional monomers find their greatest utility in soft primary

coatings, which are designed to have very low modulus. Monofunctional mono-

mers generally give good flexibility and low shrinkage.

Multifunctional monomers are most often employed in secondary coatings, ...