We describe a new optical fiber coating, comprising layers of UV-curable silicone and high-temperature acrylate, with
and without hermetic carbon. Optical and mechanical properties of graded index 50/125 μm multimode fibers drawn
with the new coating are examined. The new coatings display superior thermal stability in comparison with
conventional dual acrylate coatings.
Optical fibers with various protective coatings were submerged in liquid nitrogen to 77°K then tested for mechanical and
optical reliability. It was found that while all the fibers maintained strength after low-temperature exposure, the optical
response varied depending on the protective coating. The optical attenuation observed for some fiber samples is due to
axial shrinkage of the coating, which then leads to an elevated microbending loss. The behavior of the fiber coating at
temperatures below the glass transition temperature is discussed.
Optical fibers with different protective coatings were abraded then submerged in 50°C water for twenty-eight days. The strength of the abraded and control fibers exposed to zero-stress aging was tracked over time with tensile strength testing. Although the abrasion test represented a severe model of fiber handling, no appreciable strength degradation was detected on the fiber before or after zero-stress aging.
Demand for new safety, sensor, control, information and entertainment technologies in automobiles is stretching the data rate limits of communication networks using conventional wiring and plastic-based fibers. Thus far, the switch to high-bandwidth glass optical fibers has been hindered by concerns about the fiber’s reliability. In this study, we present zero-stress aging data for glass optical fibers with different protective coatings exposed to environmental conditions relevant to the automotive industry.
Silica optical fibers drawn from a common preform and coated with specialty coatings were exposed to zero-stress aging in various aqueous environments for approximately ten months. The strength of the fiber samples was tracked with two-point bend testing. The onset of an aging “knee” was observed for some fiber samples while other coatings offered enhanced protection from the effects of moisture-induced strength degradation.
Conference Committee Involvement (1)
Reliability of Optical Fiber Components, Devices, Systems, and Networks III
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